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.

VSO update from Clare Kamambettu

Clare, photo c/o VSO

A press release from VSO, the charity associated with the Rose of Tralee, relates the story of Clare Kambamettu's return visit to India.
It is a article worthy of your time. Here is an extract to lead you into Clare's report, “I have been to India many times but was really amazed at the level of work VSO are engaged in across India. I visited many programmes at grass roots level but still was able to see the amazing results achieved on the ground and the knock on effect this has in fighting poverty across India. It was really great to come back here with my Mam and Dad and see the other side to Indian life and the positive results organisations like VSO are achieving."

Rugby and Rose

Ronan and Clare

The Daily Edge brings great news. Ronan O'Gara, he of Ireland and Munster Rugby fame, is to be a judge at the 2011 Rose festival. Ronan is doing his Bond pose above, with Clare Kambamettu looking pretty determined.

For Ronan's quotable quotes and more pictures, visit the Daily Edge.

On your marks.....

Clare, Daithi and Molly Malone

They're away. Thanks to RTE TEN, we know that Clare Kambamettu and Daithi (with a personal appearance from Molly Malone) have launched the 2011 Rose of Tralee festival.

Clare invites you

The official promo with Clare Kambamettu showing some of the highlights awaiting Rose contestants in 2011

Support for Women's Aid from Clare

Clare Kambamettu, 2010 Rose of Tralee, has issued a message of support for Women's Aid. A quote from the message "I for one, can say with certainty that without Womens Aid, its staff and volunteers, the world would be a much poorer place".

Read the full message at Women's Aid.

Clare Kamembattu in a Rugby shirt!

Clare Kamembattu (Rose of Tralee 2010) attended a photocall to launch the new North Kildare Rugby jersey.

Go the Carlton Hotel for more.

London, Tralee, Clare

The Irish Echo, from Australia, has more about London Rose Clare Kambamettu, 2010 International Rose of Tralee.

The site quotes Clare ' "It’s been an absolutely amazing week,” she said, “and what I’ve learned about the Rose of Tralee is that everything you think is going to happen, you just double it, and triple it, and add a million on to it and you get somewhere near what actually happens" '.

Visit the Irish Echo.

Less than 40 winks is good for you

How would you look in the morning if you only had 1.5 hours sleep? Not as good as Clare Kambamettu, 2010 Rose of Tralee. The photo appears in the Irish Times.
To quote from the article - '"It's in the unofficial job description. A Rose of Tralee must be able to party all night and emerge by breakfast looking as though she has had her full eight hours in the scratcher.So in keeping with tradition, London Rose Clare Kambamettu (26) from Co Kildare, the 52nd Rose of Tralee, turned up looking radiant, clear-skinned and sparkly eyed after 1½ hours of sleep yesterday morning.
By 9.30am she was on her fifth appointment of the day. “I went to bed at quarter past five and I’ve been up since before seven so it’s been a hectic couple of hours,” she smiled, her voice hoarse. “I’m just getting used to all this.”'

There's a lot more in the article - here.

More Pics - Second Night

Clare Kambamettu, London and International 2010 Rose

The Irish Independent has a very good slideshow of photographs of the Roses on the second selection night. Go here to view it.

Clare Kambamettu from London is the 2010 Rose!

Clare Kambamettu, London Rose and

2010 International Rose of Tralee

London Rose Again in 2010!

The 2010 International Rose of Tralee is Clare Kambamettu, reigning 2010 London Rose.

Proper Way to Water Roses

The Irish Independent has this photograph and story. It seems that 6 Roses jumped fully clothed into the Atlantic Sea on the Kerry coast. Dominick Walsh is the photographer in the water, with Eric Hanaton taking the pic.

The article says 6 Roses went into the water, but I can only see 5 in the picture. Does anyone know who the missing Rose is?

The wet Roses were Belfast Rose Rose Frances Rafferty, Cork Rose Laura Mitchell, Kerry Rose Veronica Hunt, Tipperary Rose Lynda Kelly, Dublin Rose Niamh Sherlock and the 2009 Rose of Tralee Charmaine Kenny.

Mr. O'Gara is quoted in the article "If you are entering the knobbly knees or glamorous granny competitions, looking above to the magnificent aerial display and parachute jump or simply perusing the 50 years of fashion exhibition at the County Museum, we wish you every enjoyment at this year's festival".

Read the Independent article here.

Charmaine visits her Alma Mater

The diary of the Rose of Tralee is extremely varied for the year of her reign. Here we see Charmaine Kenny, the 2010 Rose of Tralee, presenting the Susan Parkes Educational Achievement Medal to Lisa Cunningham at Trinity College.

The Trinity College website has all the details go here and/or here.

Athy 2, London 2

The Kildare Nationalist has something of note to write about - the new 2010 London Rose, Clare Kambamettu is from Athy - just as last year's London Rose, Charmaine Kenny is also from Athy. Charmaine went on to become the 2009 International Rose of Tralee.

Do read the article, from which the following is quoted 'According to her mum, Breda, Clare decided to enter the competition when she saw an advertisement on her way home from work one evening. “She had been attending a lot of very serious interviews and just decided that this would be a bit of fun,” said Breda, adding that her daughter was selected as London Rose at Moran’s Hotel in North London last Saturday night. “Actually it was 2.30am on Sunday morning when the final result was announced – it was tremendous excitement all round,” Clare’s delighted mum told The Kildare Nationalist'.

Louise from Sydney

We have no other information about the Sydney Rose than a series of pictures, all available at the Irish Echo. In the picture above Louise Leninhan, the 2010 Sydney Rose has the 2009 Sydney Rose, Romy Farrelly on her left and Charmaine Kenny the 2009 International Rose on her right.

So, until we get more details, enjoy the pictures at the Irish Echo.

VSO and Rose of Tralee

You can read other posts (see the label VSO) relating to the connection between the Rose of Tralee Festival and VSO, the charity organisation.

This VSO clip shows photos of the visits to Malawi and Kenya by Aoife Kelly, Rose of Tralee 2008 and Charmaine Kenny, Rose of Tralee 2009

Heats are on for pick of the bunch - The Irish Times - Tue, Apr 20, 2010

Charmaine Kelly (Rose of Tralee 2009) with the Clare contestants

The Irish Times have a great 'behind the scenes' article. It's all about the selection night for the 2010 Clare Rose, held at the West County Hotel. Irish Times journo Brian O'Connell;s sister Aoife was a contestant on the night. Did she win? Click the link below to read the article!

Heats are on for pick of the bunch - The Irish Times - Tue, Apr 20, 2010

Charmaine - Money and Haggling Advice!

2009 Rose of Tralee, Charmaine Kenny is a master at PR for the Rose of Tralee festival! In this Irish Times article she shares her advice on money, shopping and haggling. Just one of the questions;

8. Do you invest in shares?

A summer working in the equity research department of an investment bank in London killed any interest in investing in shares. So, that would be a no!

Read it here.

Charmaine In Malawi

More news about Charmaine Kenny, 2009 Rose of Tralee. She is visiting Malawi to view VSO projects. The article was carried in the Irish Examiner. Here are some quotes;
"ROSE of Tralee Charmaine Kenny is in Africa where she is visiting Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) projects aimed at making Malawians more self-sufficient.
Malawi is one of the poorest countries in Africa, with many of its 14 million inhabitants living in extreme poverty. VSO sends experienced professionals to developing countries such as Malawi where they work to develop their educational, health and business sectors.
Charmaine, from Athy, Co Kildare, visited the Zuzuga Tea Growers Association which began as a VSO project with 11 locals but now has 400 members. Last year it produced 1.5 million tons of tea. VSO volunteers helped the Malawians develop a small out-growers scheme where they plant tea. Tea is Malawi’s biggest export but most tea estates are privately owned."
And;
"Charmaine, who has a degree in management science and a masters in economics, was impressed.
'This project is proof of the difference that VSO volunteers can make. All the people of Zuzuga area needed was some advice and expertise and now they are going from strength to strength. VSO is not about handouts. It is about giving direction and confidence to succeed,' she said."
The full article is here.