The Search is on for the 2025 Rose of Tralee!
This Nollaig na mBan, the search is beginning once again for young Irish women across Ireland and the world to stand up and show pride in their communities and send in their entries to become Roses! From New Zealand to Kilkenny, Kerry to Dublin – Roses and Rose Escorts gathered at St Stephen’s Green in Dublin to officially launch the search for the 2025 International Rose of Tralee and Rose Escort of the Year.
With Rose Selections taking place across 34 Rose Centres nationally and worldwide this year, the 2024 Rose of Tralee Keely O’Grady and 2024 Rose Escort of the Year Barry Lysaght launched the search for the 2025 Rose of Tralee International Festival and encouraged young Irish men and women to get online and start applying now to be in with a chance of taking part!
Application forms and a full list of Rose Selection events are now available online at www.roseoftralee.ie
Ireland’s flagship family festival, the Rose of Tralee International Festival continues to grow in popularity with more than 100,000 visitors annually enjoying all that is on offer across the five-day event, and more than 20 million views of last year’s Festival on Rose of Tralee social media.
There is always a warm welcome for all of the Roses and Rose escorts at The Meadowlands Hotel in Tralee – the official ‘Home of the Roses’ where fans come and celebrate in the opportunity to meet the Roses each night during the festivities. And of course, the 2025 Rose of Tralee will drive away in a beautiful KIA Ireland car to help her fulfil her role as she travels through the country on official rose business! Now, as we prepare to do it all again in 2025, the search has begun at home and abroad to find this year’s Roses and Rose Escorts.
International Rose of Tralee Keely O’Grady encouraged anyone interested in taking part to join her this year:
“Taking part in the Rose of Tralee International Festival has truly been a life-changing experience. The one thing I can say to any young woman interested is ‘go for it and apply!’
To think it’s been just five months since my name was called out by Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas in Tralee, and I’ve already had the opportunity to travel around Ireland and meet so many amazing people, visit Irish communities in Texas and Arizona in the US, and attend so many great events with all my Rose sisters and the Rose Escorts – it’s been a dream so far to say the least!”
“The most special thing about the whole experience so far has been the friendships we’ve made through the Festival. We’re practically inseparable now, we even all rang in the New Year together in Co Meath! Soon we’re all flying to Poland with Adi Roche’s Chernobyl Children International and Happy Kids Foundation to provide humanitarian support to both groups in a time of great need, through fundraising and providing volunteering help in person in Poland. Shortly after that, we’re off to New York for a once in a lifetime opportunity to take part in the St Patrick’s Day Parade on 5th Avenue, and later in the summer there’s another group of us walking the Camino in Portugal to raise funds for Cliona’s Foundation!”
“The Festival has been the most incredible experience so far and it’s a brilliant opportunity to connect with other women and represent your community and culture on a national stage.
“I am so grateful for all the lifelong friends and memories I have made on this journey. I can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring.”
Rose Escort of the Year, Dubliner Barry Lysaght, was on hand with Keely O’Grady to launch this year’s search for Roses and Rose Escorts and encouraged all those thinking of entering to seize this “once-in-a-lifetime experience to take part in the Festival and make friends from all over the world”.
Why should someone apply?” asks Rose Escort of the Year, Dubliner Barry Lysaght. “It’s been such an amazing experience already and we’re only halfway through the year! The Festival week in Tralee last August was such a great experience but it was only the start. I’ve made friends for life in the Roses and Rose Escorts from all over the world.”
“Since the Festival I’ve been lucky enough to get the opportunity to travel to Frankfurt, hosted by our German Rose Centre, and we even rang in the New Year together! This year we’ll be volunteering with Chernobyl Children International and the Happy Kids foundation, and I’m traveling to New York for the St Patrick’s Day parade. The opportunities and friendships that have opened up to me since we all first met at the Rose Escort Bootcamp has been incredible, so if you think that’s for you, I’d encourage you to apply as soon as you can.”
Over the coming months, Rose of Tralee Regional Selections will take place in towns and cities across Ireland, and all over the world. Every Rose that is selected to represent her county, city or country will enjoy a nationwide Rose Tour, showcasing the best attractions and communities right across Ireland; before arriving in Tralee for five fun-filled days of parades, gala functions, community events, entertainment, the televised Rose Selection nights and much more.
The 2025 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from August 15th – 19th. If you think you’d like to take part and become a Rose or Rose Escort, simply visit www.roseoftralee.ie for more information on how to start your own Rose journey.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
To arrange a radio or print interview with Rose of Tralee Keely O’Grady and Rose Escort of the Year Barry Lysaght, contact [email protected]
About the Rose of Tralee International Festival
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is a celebration of Irish culture and heritage, connecting the global Irish community. The Festival is supported by over 70 Rose Centres globally in Ireland, the UK, Europe, Middle East, North America, Australia and New Zealand; with centres selecting a Rose bi-annually, such that a whole host of Roses from around the world enjoy everything that the Festival has to offer each year.
The five-day festival culminates in the selection of the International Rose of Tralee, a year-long ambassador role for the woman who will represent Ireland and the Festival, both locally and around the world. Ireland’s flagship family festival, the Rose of Tralee Festival plays host to five days and nights of parades, gala functions, community events, entertainment, televised Rose Selection nights and much more. The 2025 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from August 15th – 19th.
Rose Escorts
Candidates will be invited for interview in April, with the successful gentlemen taking part in the famous team-building Boot Camp in June where they will enjoy some of Kerry’s most stunning locations and attractions. The Rose Escorts will then play an integral role in the Rose of Tralee International Festival in August supporting not only the Roses, but the wider Festival Team. Some of the highlights will include the Rose Escort Bootcamp, Festival Parades and a week packed full of entertainment. One of the lucky Rose Escorts will also be announced as the Rose Escort of the Year live on RTÉ television by Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas.
