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.

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.

Former Roses On The Menu

With thanks to the 2009 Rose Ball Menu! Click the pics to enlarge them.

Limerick Again !

Limerick may not have a Rose at the 2009 Finals, but it certainly does not let anyone forget that Limerick is a wonderful Rose supporter. In an article on independent.ie you can read all about Muirne Hurley, who represented Limerick when she became the 1994 Rose of Tralee.

Read it here. Picture care of the Rose of Tralee site.

9 Former Roses

Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, 2005 Mayo; Aoife Kelly, 2008 Tipperary; Kathryn Feeney, 2006 Queensland

Tamara Gervasoni, 2002 Italy; Lisa Manning, Perth 2001; Roisin Egenton 2000, New York

Luzveminda O'Sullivan, 1998 Galway; Colleen Murphy, 1996 Toronto; Orla Tobin, 2003 Dublin

All of these come from a gallery at ireland.com. They also have a gallery of the 2009 contestants at the 2009 launch available here.
Don't forget the official site has pics of all the former roses, click here.

A Year As A Rose

So what is like to spend a year as a Rose ? In an article by Denise Foley on irishphiladelphia.com, Colleen Gallagher, Philadelphia Rose 2007, gives a very full account.
The picture of Colleen is from this site.

Sing Like a Mayo Rose

Aoibhinn Ní Shuilleabháin was the 2005 Mayo Rose, we have mentioned her before. In the above clip, she sings like an angel.

Mayo Won in 2005

Aoibhínn Ní Shúilleabháin was the Mayo Rose in 2005, and became the Rose of Tralee in that year. This link, at Castlebar.ie, has more links fior you to follow.

2006 Rose from Queensland

This little article care of The Sydney Morning Herald, about Kathryn Feeney, Queensland Rose who was the 2006 Rose of Tralee. There was also a web chat on RTE with Kathryn.

From our Former Rose Search

You must remember Tamara Gervasoni, the Italy Rose, who became Rose of Tralee in 2002. Here she is pictured here with Victor Costello, care of Leinster Rugby site.

Former Rose Now West End Singer!

Jayne Wisener, former Antrim Rose (2005) has been appearing in Sweeney Todd in London. You read about it here.

How do you sing a song like Aoife?

In 2003 Aoife Mulholland became the 30th annual 'Galway Rose', and represented Galway at The Rose of Tralee. She has a fantastic singing career and you can read her blog at here at aoife's. The picture is from her gallery and shows her with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Alexander Hansen backstage at the Palladium.

Former California Rose writes..

A former Southern California Rose muses in her blog, here.