Gay’s take on Tralee and the Festival
IN 2009 Gay Bryne offered his take on Tralee and the Festival in the introduction to Ryle Dwyer’s book, which was written to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Rose of Tralee.
THE charm of the festival was that the competitors could be anybody’s daughter, sister or niece. It was not a beauty competition or a talent contest but it did combine elements of each in what might be called a personality show.
The Rose of Tralee is a celebration of young women born in Ireland and the foreign-born descendants of Irish people. In my 25-year association with the festival, I found these young ladies wonderful.
Looking back, what stood out most for me was the pride of the young women in their Irishness – whether they were from Cork or California.
For some the Irish connection in their roots went way back to a dim and distant past of more than a century earlier.
Their only tangible link might have been a faded photograph in the family album.
The Rose of Tralee affords an opportunity to celebrate and renew those links with Ireland. It was always wonderful to observe the parents in the audience, absolutely bursting with pride that their daughter should be representing their city, their state, or indeed their country.
The whole festival was then, and continues to be, a joyous event that gives people from all over the world a chance to reconnect with their heritage. For me it was a highlight of the year and something I looked forward to enormously. I congratulate all of those who have nurtured it.
Gay Byrne, 2009