Sporting a radiant tan and greeting everyone with grand hair and generous smiles may be the host of Rose of Tralee, Dáithí Ó Sé, but let’s move our attention to the competition itself that starts on Monday night. Starting from the late 1950s, the Rose of Tralee has effectively adapted to massive societal shifts and holds a special, albeit contentious, position within Ireland’s national calendar. So, let’s make a head start towards knowing all about this competition before it begins.
What’s the start date?
Come Monday night at 8pm, the Rose of Tralee 2024 gets rolling on RTÉ One, with Shauna O’Sullivan from Cork, a community pharmacist, getting the first slice of the spotlight at Kerry Sports Academy of MTU. Post a break for the nine o’clock news, the broadcast extends until approximately 11.20pm. The contest resumes on Tuesday, beginning at the same hour with an expected wrap-up around the same time. The last participant to exhibit will be Yorkshire’s wedding planner Clídna Bailey-Doyle. Quite a thrilling bunch of Roses, to quote AC/DC.
Who’s on hosting duties?
Interestingly, the previous year saw the organisers and RTÉ break tradition by introducing a female co-presenter, Kathryn Thomas, alongside Dáithí Ó Sé. Pushing the envelope in 2024 as well, Thomas and Ó Sé are set to co-host once again.
In 2024, how is Rose of Tralee still a happening event, what’s next – a remake of Calor Kosangas Housewife of the Year by Netflix?
In spite of the wide speculation that the Rose of Tralee is a relic of the past, ever since its debatably humourous portrayal as the “Lovely Girls Competition” in Father Ted, last year’s winner, New York Rose Róisín Wiley, defended the competition, demonstrating its ongoing relevance.
The “Rose of Tralee” festival is a celebration of multifaceted women and the distinctiveness of Irish culture. It’s a time when women feel strong and beautiful, not because of their physical appearance or clothing, but from the solidarity they grant to each other. For many, this concept of mutual support is far from being archaic.
Eligibility rules for participation in the festival have varied over the years. In its inception, the festival used to only welcome local women of Tralee. In contemporary times, however, any woman of Irish descent can vie for the title, regardless of her geographical location. In 2021, the festival became even more inclusive, allowing married women and transgender contestants to compete. Any participant, provided she was born in Ireland, possesses Irish citizenship, or has Irish ancestry, is allowed to take part. The only remaining qualifying criteria is that the participant should be aged between 18 and 30 and ‘identify as female.’
Running over two nights with a duration of five hours, the contest gives its 32 contestants enough opportunity to share insights about their lives, professions, and connections to Ireland. What used to be, in Gay Byrne’s tenure, a conventional beauty pageant has metamorphosed into a talent showcase, akin to “the Irish Diaspora’s Got Talent”. The 2023 edition, for instance, showed participants demonstrating skills such as line dancing, baby resuscitation and leg waxing.
The final decision lies in the hands of the judging panel presided over by Luzveminda O’Sullivan, the 1998 victor from Castlebar in Mayo. Other esteemed panel members include RTÉ broadcaster Nuala Carey, Ollie Turner from Galway Bay FM and fashion designer Don O’Neill from Kerry.
In terms of favourites to wear the crown, BBC Radio Foyle’s Derry Rose Darcy Taylor from Bellaghy is touted as the top contender, closely trailed by Kerry Rose and paediatric radiographer Emer Dineen from Castlegregory.