Kildare women invited to enter Rose of Tralee 2017

The search is on to find somebody to represent Kildare in the famous Rose of Tralee pageant. Last year's contestant Meabhdh O'Sullivan (pictured) from Newbridge did a great job in showcasing the Lilywhites. Entrants must be Irish-born or have Irish ancestors and be aged between 18 and 27 and be unmarried. Selections will take place from February to June and anyone interested in entering their local Rose of Tralee event can do so online at www.roseoftralee.ie. 65 Roses from Ireland and Irish communities around the globe will travel to Kerry for the seven-day festival while the 2017 Rose of Tralee will be crowned live on RTÉ on Tuesday August 22. Whoever is picked as their 2017 county, city, state or national Rose will travel to Tralee in August to enjoy everything that Ireland’s flagship family festival has to offer – parades, gala functions, entertainment, televised Rose selection nights, a RoseTour and much more. [caption id="attachment_140883" align="alignnone" width="5568"] Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD ©[/caption] Last year's Rose of Tralee, Chicago contestant Maggie McEldowney (pictured) said: “Entering the Rose of Tralee has been the best decision of my life so far. It is a celebration of all that is good about being Irish and I am encouraging Irish women and those with Irish ancestry to take part in a life changing experience. There is so much more that happens beyond the TV show in August. I was blown away by the amazing people I met during last year's Festival and I am thrilled to be part of the search for the 2017 Rose of Tralee.”  

• Eligibility Criteria

• All entrants must:
  • Be 18 years of age by January 1st 2017 and will not have reached your 28th birthday on or prior to September 1st 2017.
  • Be unmarried or never been married.
  • Be female, born in Ireland or an Irish citizen or of Irish origin by virtue of one of your ancestors having been born in Ireland.
  • For applicants residing outside the island of Ireland - be living in the region you wish to represent for a minimum of one year and recommend that if selected as the Rose that you will remain resident in this region for the following 12 months.
  • Never have previously represented any Centre as a Rose in the Regional Festival or International Rose of Tralee Selection.
  • Be available for Rose Selection events and if selected be available for International Festival events.
  Please note that it is your responsibility that you comply to all the above eligibility criteria. Breach of the above will result in automatic disqualification.

  As the Lead Sponsor of the Rose of International Festival, Tipperary Crystal will present, the 2017 Rose of Tralee with a complete collection of Tipperary Crystal Fine Jewellery, a range of high quality products from their Giftware and Homeware Collections. She’ll wear the splendid new featuring the Rose motif as the central framework, adorned in glistening crystals and the exquisitely crafted Crystal Perpetual Trophy. The next Rose of Tralee will drive away from Tralee in a brand new KIA from McElligotts Tralee, a World Travel Prize valued at €25,000, a weeklong holiday in Kerry from Kerry County Council, a tablet complete with a year’s subscription to Independent.ie, and a bouquet from flowers.ie while Sean Taaffe Group will look after all the hair styling needs of the 2017 Rose of Tralee. Every return visit to Tralee during the 2017 Rose of Tralee’s reign will be spent in comfort at the magnificent 4-star Rose Hotel, the home to the Rose of Tralee International Festival. To find details of a Rose Selection near you and to apply online, visit www.roseoftralee.ie.