Rose of Tralee presenters Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas have said they are looking forward to returning to Tralee for the 67th year of the festival, describing it as a “wonderful celebration” of Irish women from around the world.
The popular presenters, along with this year’s 32 International Roses, gathered at St Helen’s Hotel in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, to officially launch the annual festival.
Kathryn Thomas said there is already a strong sense of excitement among this year’s Roses, with little sign of nerves ahead of the live shows. She said the International Roses have already had the opportunity to get to know one another, including attending the Galway Races and enjoying some social time together.
According to Thomas, the festival combines plenty of fun and entertainment with stories that highlight the strong connection many of the Roses continue to have with Ireland. She said the production team always brings plenty of unusual and entertaining moments to the programme, including activities such as dog yoga and ice baths. However, she stressed that the heart of the festival remains the women taking part and their personal stories.
This year’s Roses include women working in a wide range of professions, including chaplains and biomedical engineers, while others are taking part to honour loved ones they have lost. Thomas also highlighted the importance of the festival to members of the Irish diaspora living abroad. She said Rose centres can provide an important community and connection to home for Irish people living in countries such as Australia and those in the Middle East. For people who have emigrated, she said, the festival can be an important reminder of their links to Ireland and their families at home.
Dáithí Ó Sé, meanwhile, said the Rose of Tralee remains one of the highlights of his year and that he is particularly pleased to be presenting the programme in his native Kerry. He described it as one of his favourite jobs of the year and said he always enjoys the opportunity to showcase Tralee and the county.
For Ó Sé, one of the most important parts of hosting the programme is building a relationship of trust with the Roses before they appear on stage. He said that while presenters can learn a great deal about the women beforehand, taking the time to sit down with them and have a genuine conversation is essential.
Ó Sé explained that he tells the Roses that anything they discuss with him is confidential, allowing them to feel comfortable about the personal questions they may be asked during the show. His aim, he said, is to ensure the women are not worrying about what he might ask them when they walk onto the stage. By building that trust in advance, he hopes the Roses can relax and focus on enjoying their experience. He added that he considers himself “the least important person” involved once the women take to the stage.
The Rose of Tralee will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Monday, August 17th, and Tuesday, August 18th, from 8pm.
