The 51st International Rose of Tralee Selection will be broadcast live from the festival dome on Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th August. This year Dáithí O Sé will present the popular live television event for the first time and will interview 32 roses over the two nights. Last year a peak of 885,000 viewers tuned in to see Charmaine Kenny crowned as the 51st Rose of Tralee.
Dáithi will take over from former host Ray D’Arcy in presenting this year’s ‘Rose of Tralee’ competition. The West Kerryman is the 11th host of the event following in the footsteps of the likes of Gay Byrne, Ryan Tubridy, Marty Whelan, Derek Davis and Kevin Hilton. Already Dáithi is enjoying his new role, evident in his description of the recent RTÉ photocall with this year’s roses: “We were in RTÉ,” he explains, “and the girls brought the sunshine with them. There was a big photocall with lots of photographers so we had a bit of fun with the girls chasing after me and sprinkling rose petals on my head. They’re a great gang of girls and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better in the coming days.”
The Executive Producer of the two-night live show is Justin Healy (Fair City) whilst the producer is Tracy O’Connor (director, Who Do You Think You Are?) and the director is Patrick Cowap (The Panel).
The new host has admitted some slight issues have already risen as to his rapport with the 32 roses. “A few of the foreign Roses have admitted that they’ve watched some clips of me online to try to get a handle on my accent,” he says. “Hopefully they’ll be fluent by the time they join me on stage.”
The floor managers for the event are Eddie Finley (The Late Late Show) and Ciaran McDonough (Fair City). The event designer is Fiona Cunningham (production designer, Fame: The Musical) and lighting will be overseen by Martin Keleghan (Saturday Night with Miriam). The shows’ production co-ordinator is Gráinne Ní Fhiannachta (Saturday Night with Miriam) whilst the broadcast co-ordinator on both nights is Áine Ní Choileáin. The shows’ researcher is Siobhán Russell (Saturday Night with Miriam) with press and publicity being taken care of by Rayna Connery. Wardrobe is under the control of Claire Beegan (Fair City) and the Make Up artist for the event is Eveleen Lunny (Celebrity Jigs’n’Reels).
As to any first-time jitters? Dáithi’s candid response belies more excitement than fear at presenting this enormous live show: “The nerves are starting to kick in a little bit but nerves are good, they keep you alert and on the ball,” he reasons. ”I’m delighted to be hosting the festival as I know it means so much to the people of Kerry but I see myself as the referee – the Roses are the star players in this event. I just want to put them at their ease on stage and have a bit of craic with them and their escorts.”
The 51st ‘Rose of Tralee’ event will be broadcast on RTÉ One on Monday, August 23rd and Tuesday, August 24th from 8pm with a break for the Nine o'clock News each night.
