A Full History of the Rose

Here is a great book detailing fifty years of the Rose of Tralee. Packed full of photographs and anecdotes it's a joy to read. We don't sell it, but fully recommend T. Ryle Dwyer's book. Get it here, at O'Brien Press.

Washington and Fermanagh

Tara Maguire, 2009 Washington D.C. Rose had a great time at the 2009 Festival. You must read the Fermanagh Herald for the full story, but we can give you some quotes; "The parade was a totally surreal experience. Thousands and thousands of people lined the streets despite the wind and the rain, and greeted us. It was an amazing welcome and something that we will all hold with us for the rest of our lives. "We got to attend the Fashion Show of the Year. Not only did we get to see some amazing designs, but we also got to strut our stuff on the catwalk! All 50 Roses were on cloud nine".

Why is all this reported in the Fermanagh Herald? Well, Tara is a native of Derrylin. Read it here.

Cavan, Queensland, New Jersey

Ray with Rose Kelly O'Shea, Queensland Rose

The Anglo-Celt brings us news of the 2009 Queensland Rose. Rose Kelly O'Shea was eleven years old when she was last in Ireland. Like other counties, Cavan is proud of it's connections with the Rose Festival Rose's connection is with Drumcalpin near Butlersbridge.

New Jersey Rose, Genevieve O'Reilly has connections too! Her father, Tom, is from Shercock.

Read the whole thing at the Anglo-Celt.

Longford Well Represented

Former Longford Roses Grainne Fox and Ciara Kearney with Tommy Butler.

Although Longford had no Rose at the 2009 Final, the county had two of it's former Roses present. They were Ciara Kearney (2008) and Grainne Fox (2007). All of this information comes care of the Longford Leader. And of course Tomy Butler, from Longford was an Escort!

And if al of this is not enough, the Longford Leader goes on to detail many other Longford connections with the Rose of Tralee.

To be found here.

A Foot in Two Countries

The Kerryman paper brings us more news on Charmaine Kenny, 2009 Rose of Tralee. It seems Charmaine will be stretching herself in more than one way, quote from the article " 'I have one foot in London and one foot in Ireland. I don't know where I'll be from here on in,' she said ".

Read the Kerryman here.

London ? Kildare? Charmaine is International

Here again we have Charmaine Kenny, her family and her boyfriend at the Final night.

The Kildare Nationalist goes big on Chamaine, all because of her Kildare Connections. A quote from the article, "Tributes have been paid to the 26-year-old since her win. Athy Chamber was effusive in its praise, and noted: “Just in case anybody needed reassurance that Athy is a town full of wonderful talented people who bestride the world stage, this year the Rose of Tralee competition had three Roses born in Athy; the Kildare Rose, Erika Kelly, the Syndey Rose, Romy Farrelly and the London Rose, Charmaine Kenny.”

In addition to this, the Kildare Nationalist reported "Labour Cllr Mark Wall also congratulated Charmaine, saying her victory “has certainly put Athy on the international map”.
Read all about it here.

Mullingar makes a claim to Rose of Tralee 2009

Carmaine Kenny pictured with her family and boyfriend on the final night.

The Westmeath Examiner has a full report on Charmaine and her Mullingar connections. From the article "Her connections with Mullingar are manifold. Her mother Marian (neé Nally) is from Gaybrook while her father, Leon Kenny, is originally from Ginnell Terrace in Mullingar. While they now live in Kildare, where Charmaine was born, the Kennys and the Nallys still live here. Add to that the fact that her escort for the competition was no other than Mullingar post man Gordon Ward and it is hard to see how she could escape the place".

And then there is this "Charmaine's parents Leon and Marian had been convinced all along that their daughter would shine - as was boyfriend Sean Hogan from Waterford who actually entered her in the competition".

Read the entire article here.

The Final Countdown, 2009

From YouTube, but more importantly RTE, comes this clip of the final final part of the Rose of Tralee 2009, culminating in the crowning of Charmaine Kenny.