Daithi's hands are full

Daithi with some British Roses c/o Irish Post

Daithi (in the centre with the bow tie) is pictured above with (l-r) Nóra Ní Fhlannagáin (London), Olivia Markantonakis (Derby), Megan Hade (Leicester) and Talitha Orlandi (Sunderland).

Unfortunately for two of the Roses, only two Roses went through. Nóra Ní Fhlannagáin, London Rose 2012 and Talitha Orlandi, Sunderland Rose 2012.

With great thanks to the Irish Post. Visit it here.

Derby set for Portlaoise

Olivia Markantonakis c/o Irish Post

Olivia Markantonakis is the 2012 Derby Rose. How is Daithi going to handle that surname? With Kery aplomb I'm sure. The Irish Post informs us that Olivia is a very talented woman - especially in the music department. Just read this from the article;  "The ambitious blonde, whose favourite artist is Adele, is a member of a Motown girl band. And she wowed the judges by singing an Irish folk song on the night as her party piece.

The former University of Lincoln drama student says she wants to pursue a career as a professional singer and plans moves to London in September to attend music college.

“I’m always singing,” she said. “I play piano, guitar and write my own music based on what’s happening in my life. I’ve just recorded an 11 track CD with a mixture of contemporary classics and Irish songs for Macmillan Cancer Research.”

Olivia also runs a Saturday theatre club called The Dee Gees."

So now you know.

Read it all at the Irish Post

Derby Rose 2010

We are grateful to The Irish World for bringing us up to date with events across the water. At the 27th annual Derby Rose of Tralee event, Sarah Harper was selected as the 2010 Derby Rose.

Derby Girl

This is Cathrina McGuinness, the 2009 Derby Rose, at her selection night. Go to derbyshire.co.uk for more.


The Irish Post has a report on Cathrina - "A three-month stint in Tanzania has given Cathrina McGuinness the courage to take part in the Derby Rose of Tralee.

The 19-year-old lives in Littleover but was born in Chessington, Surrey.

She claims her ‘amazing experience’ in the east African state led her to take the plunge after years of feeling too nervous to enter the popular competition.

Cathrina, who is currently on a gap year before staring a psychology degree at Nottingham University in October, said: “I took a three month trip to Tanzania last year as part of my gap year.

I was teaching English at an all-girls secondary school and helping to improve their sports department, and it was truly amazing.”

She added: “I think that experience has had a lot to do with me taking part in the Rose of Tralee as it gave me confidence and means I now have some interesting experiences to tell people about.”

Cathrina has a background in Irish dancing, a love of Irish music and parents who hail from counties Westmeath and Offaly.

She said: “I am very in touch with my Irish roots and have always loved the Rose of Tralee contest. My auntie used to tape it for me and send it over every year.”

Mr D'Arcy

These pictures all feature Ray D'Arcy and the Roses. They come from the Belfast Telegraph, which has a great article on the Festival.

In the first picture,Roses of Tralee from Left Helen Mc Menamin (Sandwell), Una Casey (Coventry), Regina O'Hara (Sunderland), Maeve Gallagher (Liverpool) Candy Murphy (Milton Keynes), Cathrina Mc Guinness (Derby), Leanne Tunney (Channel Islands), Hannah Oguz (Leicester) at the Rose of Tralee

More Rose Finalists in Britain

From the pages of The Irish Post we read of recent regional Roses in Britain.
Bronagh O'Neill became the Leicester Rose 2008. She was quoted as saying “My granny in Kerry will be so proud of me.” Of course she will.
And, in Smethwick, Jennifer Cummins was selected as the Sandwell Rose.
They, along with Judith Jade the Derby Rose 2008 and Gemma Hughes the Coventry Rose, will be competing in the British Finals on July 5th.
You can the item here in The Irish Post.

Derby Rose Chosen

In a report from thisisderbyshire.co.uk, we discover that Judith Jade is the 2008 Derby Rose. Please go to their site for full details and a very good slide show of pictures from the selection night.