Almost time to pick a rose

EASTER Saturday, April 19, is the date that one lucky Banner lass will become the 2014 Clare Rose at a gala selection event in the Inn at Dromoland and it’s not too late to take part.

The 2013 Clare Rose, Marie Donnellan, urged, “I have had the most wonderful year of my life and I would encourage women from across the county to fill-in an online entry form at www.roseoftralee.ie as soon as possible. I have made so many wonderful friends and enjoyed my travels to Belarus and New York City. The Clare Rose Selection event in itself is a life-changing experience while being selected to go forward to the Regional Festival in Portlaoise and ultimately the International Festival in Tralee were a bonus.”

Deputy general manager of The Inn at Dromoland, Claire Coughlan, commented, “We are delighted to welcome the Clare Rose Centre to the hotel for the first time ever. It is a testament to the quality of The Inn at Dromoland that we have succeeded in attracting the incredibly prestigious Clare Rose Selection Night on April 19.”
Chairman of the Clare Rose Centre, Ciarán O’Connell, said that the new venue, the Inn at Dromoland were keen to host the event this year and everyone involved is looking forward to a memorable occasion.

“The management and staff at the Inn at Dromoland have already been so accommodating and a massive help to us as we put the finishing touches on our Clare Rose Tour of the county on April 12and the selection night itself on Easter Saturday,” said Ciarán.

The deadline to enter the 2014 Clare Rose Selection is fast approaching and prospective applicants are encouraged to enter online at www.roseoftralee.ie before it’s too late.

Further information on how to take part in the 2014 Clare Rose Selection can be obtained by emailing theclarerose@gmail.com, or by following the Clare Rose Centre on Facebook (www.facebook.com/clareroseoftralee) or Twitter (@ClareRoseCentre).

Also, there’s still time for Irishmen from home and abroad to become a Rose Escort at the 2014 Rose of Tralee International Festival after the deadline was extended to this Friday.

2013 Newbridge Silverware Escort of the Year was Jonny McGailey from Dundalk. Throughout the year, Jonny has travelled to Belarus volunteering with Chernobyl Children International and took part in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York with the rest of the Tralee family.

Jonny was the escort to the Leitrim Rose, Edwina Guckian in 2013 and since then he has also travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to attend many a reunion with some of the greatest people he has ever met and can now call his friends. Men aged between 21 and 30 have until Friday to apply online on the Rose of Tralee website.