Birmingam Rose, Kerrie Doherty, winner of The Midlands Rose Final, who now goes to The International Rose Final in Tralee later this month

Birmingham Rose Kerrie Doherty won The Midland Rose of Tralee Final held at The Renaissance Hotel in Solihull on Saturday, 16th July. And what a celebration it sparked when Anthony O’Gara, Chief Executive-Rose of Tralee International Festival, ann-ounced the winner.
With an audience of nearly 600 guests, including a large contingent of Kerrie’s family, relations and friends over from Ireland for this special night, the Doherty clan partied on into the wee small hours!
The other six Roses were a credit to their centres and families, as it was a hard choice for the panel of judges to pick the eventual winner. The Birmingham And Midlands Rose Of Tralee Committee’s dynamic duo of Maria Cleary and Teresa Melody must take great credit for putting together one of the best attended and best organised events on The Rose of Tralee calander. From the moment The New Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Mr John Hood & Lady Mayoress Mrs Jean Hood were piped in by the Birmingham Pipe & Drums, the evening flowed with style and grace. The attentive audience gave each girl the respect they deserved during their interviews, while compere Sean O’Se, from Cork, ensured fair play was adhered to, and even filled in with a few songs when the judges were wrestling with the final choice between the seven worthy Roses.
The entertainment came from several sources on the night, inclu-ding a great band from Manchester called The Ranchers. There was also an excellent display of Irish Dancing by Angela Crowley, who as well as being Birmingham and England’s Rose 2004, is also a former World Irish Dancing Champion.
Not forgetting the contributions from the girls competing on the evening. I’m sure the Leicester Rose, Sinead Wall, will have a few record producers chasing her to sign a contract after her stunning singing voice wowed the audience.
But back to Kerrie now, as she’s off to the big one in Tralee later this month, and I’m positive that she will be a fine ambassador for our region. One thing’s for sure: there will be no shortage of support for this lovely young lady, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing at Vaughan’s Private Members Club in The Birmingham Rose Final.
May I take this opportunity of personally congratulating Kerrie on her marvellous achievement on becoming the ‘Midlands Rose of Tralee’. I would also like to wish her Mum and Dad, Rose and Oliver, and all of her relations a fantastic time in County Kerry. I think that I speak for most Harp readers when I wish Kerrie all the luck in the world!