Search to pick Wexford Rose
The search is underway to find the 2019 Wexford Rose who will be selected at a gala event in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey on Saturday May 11.
The Wexford Rose will travel to the annual Rose of Tralee International Festival in August and will enjoy parades, gala functions, televised selection nights and a Rose Tour.
‘This year is a very special one for us as we celebrate 60 years of the Rose of Tralee’, said Wexford Rose Coordinator Peter Cooney.
‘We hope to receive even more applications than ever from young women who would like to enjoy a life-changing experience through their participation in the Rose of Tralee.’
‘The Festival organisers have revamped the selection process by removing the regional qualification aspect of the event to ensure that every Rose who is selected each year will feature on live television which will be broadcast on RTE from the Dome.’
‘But anyone who decides not to enter the Wexford Rose this year won’t get another opportunity to do so again until 2021, so that in itself is another great incentive to fill out the entry form in 2019’, he said.
‘My entire Rose journey has been overwhelming in the most positive sense’, said the current Rose of Tralee, Kirsten Mate Maher from Waterford, as she encouraged Wexford women to enter the competition.
‘I still can’t put into words how surprised I was to have been chosen to represent the festival. I cannot get over the amount of life-long friends from all over the world that I made from the moment I was selected as the Waterford Rose’
‘It has been the most positive life-changing experience. It is much more than you see on TV and and the only way to truly appreciate that is to enter your local Rose selection.’
Peter Cooney paid tribute to last year’s Wexford Rose, Saoirse Walsh, describing her as ‘a wonderful ambassador for the entire county and an excellent role model to all who have had the privilege of meeting her.’
‘On behalf of the Wexford Rose Centre team, it has been a pleasure to work with Saoirse and we thank her for her time and dedication’, he said.
The 2019 Diamond Jubilee Rose will drive away from Tralee in a brand new Kia courtesy of McElligotts of Tralee, a world travel prize valued at €25,000 and a week-long holiday in Kerry from Wexford County Council along with a complete collection of jewellery and giftware from the festival’s lead sponsor Tipperary Crystal.
Anyone interested in entering the Wexford Rose Selection this year can do so online at www.roseoftralee.ie/apply while further information about the selection process is available by contacting Peter.Cooney82@gmail.com or telephoning or texting 087-8141272.