Jessica Smiles

Jessica Adamson, 2010 Carlow Rose, has returned to the classroom following the Rose Festival. The Carlow Nationalist has a great piece about Jessica and the aftermath of the festival. May we quote '"The beautiful Jessica glittered in Tralee last week, making her a firm favourite not just bookies but with all those who attended the Rose of Tralee festival. “I’m shattered since getting back. Really, it’s been hectic ever since I won the Carlow Rose,” said Jessica on Monday. “I had an absolute ball in Tralee. It’s a shock to the system to get back to normal. It definitely is a bit sad that it’s all over,” she admits'.

Click this Carlow Nationalist link to read the full story.

Clare's Escort

Just a pic from the Roscommon Rose Site. Here we see Donal Gill (Roscommon Escort) with Clare Kambamettu the 2010 Rose of Tralee.

Klassy Anne

Klassy Dress hire sponsors Roses each year, and document their photos at their website.

From their site we see Anne Sinnott, 2010 Wexford Rose, together with MC Daithi O'Shea.

Martha loved it

Martha with Robbie

Martha Gilheany, 2010 Leitrim Rose, had "the time of my life" at the International Rose Festival, according to the Leitrim Observer. The article reveals Martha's experiences at the festival - e.g. what was the highlight at Tralee? - "When asked about the highlight from Tralee, Martha didn't hesitate in selecting the parade. She said it was "magical," she described the sky, the atmosphere, the crowds, the colourful floats and most importantly her support as "extraordinary."

Martha Escort during the festival was Robbie Costello, the same Robbie who won Escort of the Year. From the Observer - 'Martha paid tribute to her right hand man, Robbie Costelloe who won Escort of the Year in the Dome last Monday night. She said he was a "gentleman and so funny, he helped me relax when I got nervous" '.

Read more in the Leitrim Observer.

London, Tralee, Clare

The Irish Echo, from Australia, has more about London Rose Clare Kambamettu, 2010 International Rose of Tralee.

The site quotes Clare ' "It’s been an absolutely amazing week,” she said, “and what I’ve learned about the Rose of Tralee is that everything you think is going to happen, you just double it, and triple it, and add a million on to it and you get somewhere near what actually happens" '.

Visit the Irish Echo.

Less than 40 winks is good for you

How would you look in the morning if you only had 1.5 hours sleep? Not as good as Clare Kambamettu, 2010 Rose of Tralee. The photo appears in the Irish Times.
To quote from the article - '"It's in the unofficial job description. A Rose of Tralee must be able to party all night and emerge by breakfast looking as though she has had her full eight hours in the scratcher.So in keeping with tradition, London Rose Clare Kambamettu (26) from Co Kildare, the 52nd Rose of Tralee, turned up looking radiant, clear-skinned and sparkly eyed after 1½ hours of sleep yesterday morning.
By 9.30am she was on her fifth appointment of the day. “I went to bed at quarter past five and I’ve been up since before seven so it’s been a hectic couple of hours,” she smiled, her voice hoarse. “I’m just getting used to all this.”'

There's a lot more in the article - here.

A Trip to Tullamore

Danielle McBurnett, 2010 Arizona Rose, visited the town of Tullamore during her trip to Ireland, acording to the Offaly Express. Why Tullamore? Because it is twinned with Chandler, a town in Arizona. Simple really.

Read all about in the Offaly Express.

First Night Slideshow

Aisling Ryan, 2010 Queensland Rose, confuses Daithi

The Irish Independent brings us a great slideshow of the first night. One of the photographs is of Rose Talty, 2008 New Jersey Rose, who is Daithi's girlfriend.

Here is the slideshow.

More Pics - Second Night

Clare Kambamettu, London and International 2010 Rose

The Irish Independent has a very good slideshow of photographs of the Roses on the second selection night. Go here to view it.

Clare Kambamettu from London is the 2010 Rose!

Clare Kambamettu, London Rose and

2010 International Rose of Tralee

London Rose Again in 2010!

The 2010 International Rose of Tralee is Clare Kambamettu, reigning 2010 London Rose.

Daithi picks his Rose

Daithi has admitted that he is stepping out with a Rose - the 2008 New Jersey Rose. That's her, Rita Talty, up there!

Click the pic - it's huge!

299 More Photographs!

Those good people at Event Capture have been snapping away. Just visit their site and view (or buy!) 299 photos taken of the Roses at Ballinasloe.

Danielle on the edge

We don't often hear from the Clare Herald - but they bring news of Danielle McBurnett, the 2010 Arizona Rose. Here she is at the Cliffs of Moher, which she has voted to be amongst the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The Clare Herald has an extensive profile not only of Danielle, but on the links between Arizona and Ennis, the county town of Clare.

Read it here.

More Slideshows

Slideshows seem to be this years big new thing. The Irish Independent has a great one - view it here.

No Snakes in Australia?

The Carlton Hotel are one of the sponsors of the Festival - taking care of many of the Rose needs. Earlier in the week the Roses visited Dublin Zoo.

It was there that Bridget O'Connor, the 2010 South Australia Rose, came face to face with Brian the snake. She screamed and screamed, according to the Carlton website! Surely there are more dangerous snakes and spiders in Australia. Maybe not.

Down First

Lisburn Today (Ulster Star) brings us up to date with news of the 2010 Down Rose Gemma Murphy. It appears that Gemma is the first Down Rose in 51 years to reach the finals in Tralee. I think Gemma under sells herself slightly when she says (per the article) '"I will be nervous about the TV part because I have never been on stage before. It is not something I am used to, I hate being the centre of attention. It will be a ten minute conversation so I will just try to forget I am on TV. I am nervous that I might fall over or something but once I get started I'm sure it will be fine"'.

Visit the Lisburn Today site for the rest of the article.

Broadsheet Roses

the view from Broadsheet

The site Broadsheet brings you a slide show of some of the 2010 Roses. You should then browse Broadsheet - it should bring a smile to your face.

Daithi and Dublin

From the pages of the Herald we find Niamh Sherlock, 2010 Dublin Rose, with Daithi (you never see Daithi in a pic with another man!). The article tells us about her boyfriend (not Daithi!) and her plans for the coming Festival week.

More About Donal

Probably the best aricle about an Escort is the one in the Galway Advertiser. It gives a thorough profile of Donal Gill. Just to give you a flavour of the report '"As the girls were being interviewed the lads were also interviewed by Rose of Tralee delegate, Ollie Lawlor,” he says. “He and the girls chose the escort to go to Tralee to represent Roscommon. When I was chosen I was totally shocked. I had a fantastic night at the selection so it was an added bonus to be chosen. My full compliments go to the Roscommon Rose Committee, they put on a great night"', and "It was fantastic to meet the other lads, they were a sound bunch. It was good to be able to put faces to the names. It was an activity-based weekend with canoeing, kayaking, etc. The organisers also outlined the expected attire for the festival. A lot of it you would have yourself ordinarily. I had most of it myself. You are asked to look sharp, clean and casual"

You really should read the story - here.