SERVICES


Tuesday February 5, 2013

Search For 2013 Rose Of Tralee Underway

Pictured (LtoR) Fine Gael Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadker TD, 1959 Dublin Rose, Alice O Sullivan and the year 2000 New York Rose Roisin Egenton on board the Jeanie Johnston Ship at the launch in Dublin (Photocall)

Over five million people who have been to the Rose of Tralee International Festival since 1959 are being invited to return for an extended Rose Gathering in August.

The 2012 Rose of Tralee, Nicola McEvoy, was joined by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar and RTÉ's Rose of Tralee TV Presenter, Dáithí Ó Sé to send the first official invitation - Message in a Bottle - from the deck of the Kerry-built Jeanie Johnston Replica Famine Ship, a symbol of mass emigration from Ireland in the 19th Century.

Also at the double launch were the first and Millennium Roses of Tralee, Alice O'Sullivan (1959 Dublin) and Róisín Egenton (2000 New York).

Newbridge Silverware, the lead sponsors of the Festival, will present the next Rose of Tralee with a range of handcrafted jewellery and homeware products.

She will also receive a World Travel Prize worth €25,000 from Dublin Airport Authority, a year's driving in a brand new car and much more.

Minister Varadkar said at the launch: "The Rose of Tralee has been hosting Gatherings since 1959, so it's great to launch their 'Search for a Rose' during the Gathering 2013. I also love the idea of inviting every Rose back to Tralee this year for the Rose Gathering. It's a really good example of how a long-established festival can add a new twist for this year's celebrations."

The Festival has connected the global Irish community in Tralee since 1959 attracting millions of festival-goers, thousands of Roses, their Escorts, families and friends, entertainers, volunteers, judges and sponsors.

They are all invited to come for the Rose Gathering and to stay for an extended Festival to enjoy a full program of events to help visitors reconnect with Tralee and the many people who share the same experience.

"I had to move to Luxembourg but the Rose of Tralee gave me and so many more people over the years, an opportunity to come home for a while to celebrate our heritage in a festive atmosphere," said Nicola McEvoy.

Anyone who registers to attend the Rose Gathering before March 1 will have a chance to win free accommodation in a four-bedroom apartment in Tralee during the week of the Festival.

The first 3,000 people who register from outside Kerry will each receive a complimentary ticket to the Sharon Shannon Gathering Concert in the Dome on Thursday August 15.

Everyone who registers will be included on a guest list for a number of free and discounted events and tours during the Festival.

The 2013 Rose of Tralee will be crowned in the Dome on Tuesday 20th August.

Follow irishexaminerus on Twitter

CURRENT ISSUE


RECENT ISSUES


SYNDICATE


Subscribe to this blog's feed
[What is this?]

POWERED BY


HOSTED BY


Copyright ©2006-2013 The Irish Examiner USA
Terms of Service | Privacy Policy
Website Design By C3I