Huge crowds at Tralee Rose parades

ASK any Rose what they’re most looking forward to before the Festival and the parades are almost certain to feature high on their lists.

Given the huge crowds that lined the streets on Saturday night and Sunday afternoon they won’t have been disappointed.

As with so many events over the weekend weather was a big factor in the night’s proceedings. Ahead of Saturday’s parade through town Tralee was battered by heavy rain leading to suggestions that the parade may have had to have been called off.

Even if it went ahead the fear around town was that, given the awful weather, the crowds would opt to stay at home rather than risk a soaking.

Thankfully neither concern was justified and the parade went ahead as planned with huge crowds emerging from wherever they’d been sheltering and lining the streets shortly before the parade got underway.

Rain or no rain the traditional carnival atmosphere that accompanies the parade was back once again and the night’s proceedings proved to be as colourful, lively and entertaining as ever.

While the general mood was exuberant the Roses and their escorts could be forgiven if they didn’t find the experience quite as enjoyable as the massed spectators.

Sitting atop mostly open floats with little to protect them from the elements it was obvious several Roses had endured quite a soaking by the time they reached the stage at the foot of Denny Street.

Many of the escorts were looking similarly drenched and the remark from one of the Rose’s back room team that “they were a little damp” seemed like quite the understatement.

Still though, despite the inclement weather, the Roses all seemed to be in tremendous form and to have enjoyed the experience. I imagine though that warm clothes, blankets, tea and Lemsip were the order of the day when they got back to their rooms in the Rose Hotel.

Mercifully the weather on Sunday morning and afternoon was much better and while the rain did arrive again in the early evening it was warm and dry for the daytime parade which also attracted enormous crowds.

The organisers had promised the biggest and best parades ever seen in Kerry. Anyone who was in Tralee to watch them should surely agree that they delivered on their pledge.

The Roses have coats and still got wet, but the poor escorts walked in the rain, the worst weather ever experienced during a Rose parade. Photo: John Cleary.

Mary Brosnan, Sean Brosnan, Catelyn Brosnan, Maggie O’ Callaghan, Sión O’ Callaghan, Megan Brosnan and Liam Brosnan pictured getting ready to enjoy the Rose Parade in Tralee on Saturday night.

Aibhín Begley, Fiona Begley, Aoife Begley, Ciara Begley and Amy Galvin pictured getting ready to watch the Rose Parade in Tralee on Saturday night.

The wind and rain did not dampen the smiles on this lovely bunch of roses during Saturday night’s Rose parade in Tralee. Photp: John Cleary.

Enjoying the Rose of Tralee Saturday night Parade were Joanne, Dylan, David and Dominic Cunningham,Tralee

Chicago Rose gets a great welcome from supporters in the Rose parade on Saturday night. Photo: John Cleary.