Naas politician hits out at Rose of Tralee contest for girls aged 6 to 10

Sinn Féin Councillor for Naas Municipal District has criticized the Rose of Tralee organizers for calls to include 6 to 10 year olds in its annual competition.

Councillor Sorcha O'Neill said "I think its too much to be using children in this way. I personally don't think its acceptable in this day to pit children against each other and putting a higher value on looks or cuteness."

Earlier this month Rose of Tralee sent out calls to include the Rose Buds for the week long festival.

Cllr O'Neill added: "Its wasn't so long ago that many Dublin hotels all refused to take bookings for an American beauty pageant that wanted to set up in Ireland and there was uproar about sexualising children. Yet we seem to accept this from an Irish company. Where is the logic in that? Kids have enough body and self esteem issues by the time they hit their teens. Let kids be kids without the focus being on how they look or perfecting the most endearing smile".

Earlier this month, Co Kildare girls aged between 6 and 10 were invited to apply to become Rose Buds at the 2017 Rose of Tralee International Festival. Each lucky Rose Bud will be twinned with a Rose, take part in two parades, attend an exclusive Rose Bud Party with the Roses and much more during the week-long festival in August 16-22.

Rose Bud application forms are available from www.roseoftralee.ie/apply, sponsors Flowers.ie, Crag Cave and the Rose of Tralee International Festival Office, Denny Street, Tralee.

The deadline for the receipt of completed application forms and the non-refundable €25 registration fee is 5pm on Wednesday 24th May 2017.

Successful applicants will be required to make a €50 contribution to cover participation costs during the festival.