While empires crumble and fads fade, The Rose of Tralee (RTÉ One, Monday, 8pm) carries on undaunted. The renowned competition, comically mimicked as the Lovely Girls Competition in the Father Ted series, is prepping for its 63rd run this summer. It shows no signs of slowing or losing its charm. On the contrary, as 2024 approaches, The Rose of Tralee is more spirited than ever, with Kathryn Thomas back as co-host with Dáithí Ó Sé for the second consecutive year.
The contest commences promptly. The Day 1 is graced by the Dubai Rose, Ciara O’Sullivan, an educator and GAA player. She presents a snapshot of herself leaping in her football gear amidst the sandy landscape, and displays her harp skills. Afterwards, Abby Walsh, the Waterford Rose and a fresh community pharmacist graduate, shares her experience and enthusiasm about pursuing education in Irish from primary school right up to university. The line is then taken by the North Carolina Rose, Kathryn Wright, who uncovers her admiration for Dolly Parton and invites Kathryn Thomas for a card trick. (Thomas is left bemused thinking why Ó Sé escaped the trick and is lurking in the background.)
The contestants often exhibit unique talents, from card tricks, tapping tunes on a harp, to playing the bagpipes—as demonstrated by Maggie Baglin, the San Francisco Rose. This modern trend helps to reinforce that The Rose of Tralee is not a common pageant and labelling it as outdated is unjust for the contestants. They have journeyed across the globe to celebrate and pay homage to their Irish lineage in Tralee.
Despite its uniqueness, the first segment of the 2024 Rose of Tralee fails to bedazzle. Occasional uneasy moments do occur, like when Thomas and Ó Sé lead an awkward sing-along of The Proclaimers’ ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’, performed on bagpipes by the San Francisco Rose.
The 2024 Rose of Tralee is distinct, and its first segment is a testament to that. For those interested in the contest, knowing the start time, potential winner, and other details is essential.
The irresistible RTÉ podcast about Samantha Cookes, a notorious pathological liar, famously known as ‘The Real Carrie Jade’, proves difficult to ignore. Admittedly, there are one or two moments that make you wince, but these are few and far between. In contrast, there are many instances where the audience showers applause, while Ó Sé offers a cheeky wink to the cameras. Hundreds upon hundreds of viewers engage on social media, predominantly through humorous references to Father Ted, or jokes about the volume of Father Ted allusions. This all serves as a testament that the Rose of Tralee, regardless of it being seen as quaint and mortifying, or traditional yet progressive, is here to stay.