This year’s ‘Rose of Tralee’ Festival attracted over 200,000 visitors from all over the World. This is the 47th Anniversary of the festival. Beautiful young ladies came from right around the globe to represent their various Cities and Counties at this prestigious event. The compere was Ray D’Arcy, he did a fine job and made all the Ladies feel very much at ease. The event was held over two nights Monday and Tuesday night’s August 22nd and 23rd, over 1Million viewers tuned in to RTE Television to watch the event.

All the Roses were interviewed by Ray and they all had the opportunity to do a party piece, our lovely Birmingham Rose Miss Kerrie Doherty did you all proud and recited one of Michael Collin’s Monologues eloquently. Some of the Roses sang a song others did an Irish Reel or Jig. There was great friendship between all the Ladies taking part and all of them were overwhelmed by the festival and all the tours and public appearances they made prior and following the event.
Just after Eleven O Clock on Tuesday Night it was announced that Aoibhinn O’ Shuilleabhain The Mayo Rose, was ‘Rose of Tralee’ 2005. There was great celebrations and indeed a little piece of history was made as this years restructuring of the selection process allowed more counties to be represented at the Festival, with Mayo sending a Rose forward for the very first time since the festival was established.
Aoibhinn is a native of Carnacon near to Claremorris, the village was bedecked with bunting and flags. Following a warm welcome home Aoibhinn had a chance to rest before her formal welcome in Mayo’s County Town Castlebar. I had the privilege to be on hand with Fellow Mid West Radio Presenters Tommie Marron and Gerry Glennon, we were there to do an outside broadcast to give the people who could not be present a flavor of what was taking place.
Just after 7pm a convoy of cars arrived at The T F Ballroom where we were on hand to do our outside broadcast, Aiobhinn was formally welcomed and then driven through the thronged streets of Castlebar in an open top car, on return to the hotel she went inside and was welcomed by various dignitaries, she then came to our outside broadcast unit and did a lovely interview with Gerry Glennon. She was most gracious for the support she had received and grateful for the large crowds who came out to welcome her home. As she was about to finish her interview ‘Big Tom’ came and joined her and was most complimentary to her. ‘Big Tom’ was performing on the night in the Hotel.
Sunday Afternoon we were doing an outside broadcast from Ballinrobe Races and Aiobhinn was Guest of Honour and we had the chance to meet her again and have a nice cup of tea in her company. I wish her well for the forthcoming year and I know she will represent Mayo and Ireland well where ever she goes.