Dáithí Ó Sé ready for action as he meets the 57 hopeful Roses at the RTÉ Rose of Tralee launch
Gathering from Arizona to Antrim, Newcastle to Newfoundland and Tipp to Texas… All 57 hopeful Roses caught up with Dáithí Ó Sé today (Wednesday 15 August) in the gardens of the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham ahead of this year’s 2018 Rose of Tralee International Festival.
The festival is now in its 59th year and interviews with the final 32 Roses will be broadcast live from the festival dome in Kerry at 8pm on Monday 20 and Tuesday 21 August on RTÉ One with a break for the Nine O’Clock News.
Dáithí, who returns for his ninth year at the helm of the show, has been busy training all summer for what is shaping up to be the most physically challenging set of party pieces in Rose history. ‘You need a lot of energy for the whole festival, but especially for the Monday and Tuesday nights. I’ve been out walking or jogging 6 miles a day for the last 6 weeks, as well as watching what I’m eating and drinking lots of water. For me, that’s around 3 pints, which Rita (Talty) would drink for breakfast!’ said Dáithí. He added: ‘One of the main things I look forward to every year is actually meeting all the Roses, getting the know them and then seeing them do well on stage.. that’s the best part for me.’
The Rose of Tralee will be available to watch for free, live and on-demand by audiences in Ireland and around the world on RTÉ Player (desktop, iOS and android apps) and RTÉ Player International. A host of online and clips and extras from the Rose of Tralee will also be available on RTÉ Player.
For a unique look at what goes on behind the scenes at the Rose of Tralee, go to www.rte.ie/entertainment, where RTÉ.ie will host a dedicated section to the festival featuring a live tracker and news stories as and when they happen. For a serious dose of the festival’s fashion with the Roses, visit www.rte.ie/lifestyle. Follow the events as they unfold on RTÉ.ie and on RTÉ’s Entertainment and Lifestyle Facebook and Twitter pages.
Social Superman James Patrice will also return as the backstage Rose Reporter, and you can follow his antics across RTÉ One’s social media platforms. Stay tuned for a whole host of exclusive behind the scenes content across Facebook Live, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat (rteonesnaps). The official hashtag is #roseoftralee.