Dáithí Ó Sé introduces the 32 hopeful Roses

Host Dáithí Ó Sé introduced all 32 hopeful Roses for the first time ahead of this year’s 2019 Rose of Tralee television show. This is Dáithí’s tenth year presenting the show and he and the 2019 Roses were in celebratory form at Castletown House before they began their journey to Tralee.  

The Rose of Tralee International Festival will also celebrate its sixtieth year and interviews with the 32 Roses will be broadcast live from the festival dome in Tralee, Co.Kerry at 8pm on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 August on RTÉ One with a break for the Nine O’Clock News. 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 exclusive online clips and extras from the Rose of Tralee will also be available on RTÉ Player.

The 32 Roses who make it to the TV broadcast will represent centres in Ireland, Britain, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, mainland Europe and the Middle East.

Nationwide will also mark the festival’s sixtieth year as they cover a story of how true love conquers all.  Two decades ago, a young Zambian officer cadet came to Ireland as part of an elite squad for training with Ireland’s defence forces on the Curragh; he fell in love with an Irish girl and their eldest child is the current Rose of Tralee.  Nationwide reporter Mary Fanning who interviewed Kwalo Mate on the Curragh over two decades ago, goes to Waterford to catch up with him and meet his family. It will air this Friday 23 August at 7pm on RTÉ One.

For up-to-dates news on what’s happening at the Rose of Tralee, go to  www.rte.ie/entertainment, where RTÉ.ie will host a dedicated section to the festival. For a serious dose of the festival’s fashion along with health and fitness features 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.

This year James Patrice will return as the backstage Rose Reporter and you can follow his antics across RTÉ One’s social media platforms. You will find exclusive behind the scenes content on www.twitter.com/rteone, www.instagram.com/rteone and rteonesnaps, as well as on @rte, @rteplayer and @rtearchives on Twitter. The official hashtag is #roseoftralee