Rose escort will be fuelled by success
LOUTH’S Rose of Tralee escort is a Dundalk-based teacher at a Drogheda school who is sponsored by his family’s fuel business.
John Kirk went through two interviews and a Kerry boot camp to get one of the coveted escort spots for the 2017 festival, an event he is very much looking forward to.
A Maths and Science teacher at St Oliver’s Community College and from Ballykelly, near Dundalk, John says his selection is a ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’. He said: ‘It is a great festival to be involved in and, as a teacher, I have the summer off so I wanted to push myself to do something different and have a completely new experience.
‘I thought I would give the process a go and I didn’t expect to get it but I’m glad I did get through’. The process was tough, with interviews where he was asked about theoretical situations and even what he thought of Donald Trump!
The 29-year-old was able to regale the judges with his story about ending up in a Moscow bar with his cousin and two friends and managing to get along with the non English speaking Russians when a Pogues tribute band came on!
And on the June Bank Holiday weekend, 70 escorts were put through their paces at a bootcamp in Kerry where the lads had to put up tents and fend for themselves in a remote part of the county - without their mobiles and wallets. In addition, there was plenty of fun in the form of water-based challenges and a tour of the Ring of Kerry.
John said: ‘It was a great experience and I was sharing with two solicitors, a DJ, a parliamentary assistant and a guy who works in renewable energy. They were a great bunch of lads and everyone had a bit of craic’.
His friends and colleagues have been very supportive, particularly his dad, John and mum, Tina. An opera singer friend was able to loan him a tuxedo for the Kerry weekend. In addition, his grandfather, Johnny, is supporting him. The family have fuel businesses in Ballykelly, Dublin Road and Newry Road in Dundalk and they sponsored his escort bid.