The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Celine simply shines at Rose of Tralee
KERRY Rose Celine O’Shea has described the Rose of Tralee Festival as an “extremely emotional experience”.
The 25-year-old social care worker from Foilmore said she wasn’t a bit nervous on stage and that her time with host Dáithí Ó Sé simply flew by.
“I was lucky the nerves didn’t get to me but being on stage was the pinnacle point of the week.
“I was second on stage so I got to experience the rest of the show and enjoy it.”
She says the Rose Festival has been an amazing experience throughout the entire week and she’s sad that it’s all over.
“I’ve been in a Rose bubble all week but it will be nice to share the experiences with my friends and family.”
Monday night also saw a little bit of history made at the Rose of Tralee when the Carlow Rose Shauna Ray Lacey became the first mother ever to take to the Dome stage in the festival’s 59-year history.
The Carlow woman also earned the admiration of viewers across the country with her emotional and frank discussion about her parent’s past struggles with drugs.
THE Rose of Tralee is to revert to a smaller format following a decision to axe the controversial qualification system that sees half the Roses cut from the contest before the televised selection nights.
Rose of Tralee Executive Director Anthony O’Gara described the current qualification system as a “well-intentioned” but failed “experiment.” The system was introduced in 2016 when the Regional Finals in Laois were scrapped.
That year the method of telling the Roses if they had qualified for the TV show – which was filmed and broadcast by RTE – was heavily criticised by many viewers who called it cruel and insensitive.
While the qualification process – quickly dubbed the ‘Rose Culling’ – was modified to make it less upsetting, it has now been decided to scrap it altogether.
From next year on most Rose Centres will send a Rose every second year, and every Rose will take part in that year’s televised selection nights.
An exception will be made for Kerry, Cork and Dublin, who will take part each year. Some larger international centres will also be allowed take part in two years out of three.
“The experiment was well-intentioned, but it hasn’t worked. She [the Rose] feels that if she doesn’t get through, she is letting down her friends and family and locality. It isn’t the case, but that’s how she feels,” Mr O’Gara said.