Over the Christmas holidays Robbie Gallagher, Chairman of Monaghan Town Council and the current Monaghan Rose of Tralee, Noelle Clerkin welcomed the 2010 Texas Rose Adrienne Hussey to county Monaghan. Adrienne had travelled from Texas for the festive period to attend numerous functions and visit her fellow Roses and Escorts across Ireland. The Texas lady arrived to Monaghan last Wednesday night, where she was visiting her escort and the 2010 Monaghan Escort Eoin Treanor and to meet our Rose Noelle, before heading to Limerick for the Rose of Tralee New Year’s Eve Ball with 35 of the 2010 International Roses and Escorts. Councillor Gallagher was delighted to welcome Adrienne to our town on behalf of the town council and he has high hopes for the next Monaghan rose in 2011.

Adrienne told Councillor Gallagher “Having the chance to be a Rose was an opportunity of a life time. I can honestly say it has changed my life in more ways than one. Of course the parades, dresses, autographs, etc. are all great perks, but it was the friends made, memories, and pride from my family, friends, and the people of Ireland, that was most valuable from my interaction in the Rose of Tralee. I was able to not only meet but become great friends with some of the most intelligent and personable women and men (the Roses and Escorts) from all over the world, who share similar ambitions and interests as me. I would one hundred per cent recommend to any woman in Monaghan that is eligible and interested in the Rose to partake in the Monaghan Rose of Tralee. It most certainly will not disappoint, and can open doors to a world and experience you could never imagine."

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The Monaghan Rose of Tralee Festival is currently searching for the 2011 Monaghan Rose and Escort. If you would like to enter the competition and take part in the festival or perhaps you have a sister, daughter, friend or colleague who you think could represent county Monaghan at the 2011 Rose of Tralee Festival please contact us at monaghanrose@gmail.com or call the centre co-ordinator Nicola at 0872529503.

The Selection night will be held this April. There will also be a number of events in which all the entrants to this year’s Monaghan heats will attend, such as the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Monaghan Town.

The winning Rose will represent Monaghan at numerous festivals, fundraising events, black tie balls, and awards as did Noelle Clerkin our 2010 Monaghan Rose, throughout her year as the Rose. Becoming the Monaghan Rose will be an opportunity to create awareness for a charity or a cause you feel passionate about. The festival can give you a platform to further the awareness and creates a fundraising opportunity for your charity.     

This year we are again searching for the gentlemen of County Monaghan, last year’s Escort Eoin Treanor reached the final at Tralee and was lucky enough to be the proud escort to the 2010 Texas Rose Adrienne Hussey. If you would like the same opportunity or if you have a brother, cousin, friend or colleague who you believe has good old fashioned charm and manners he is the perfect escort for us!

The Deadline for entries to the Monaghan Rose and Escort selection is the 31^st of March 2011. Each rose and escort will require a sponsor. Please do not allow this to hamper your entry we will help you find a sponsor if you cannot find one yourself.  Everyone can enter at any stage before having a sponsor.

The Rose of Tralee is an experience that must be experienced. Please read the blog from previous Monaghan roses and International Roses and Escorts sharing their experiences of the International Festival. www.monaghanrose.blogspot.com

In Ireland there are 32 Roses selected from each county at local heats and selection nights. Dublin, Cork and Kerry counties are selected and continue straight through to the International Final in Tralee in August. The remaining 29 roses attend the Irish Regional Finals in Portlaoise during the June Bank Holiday from here 9 Roses are selected to represent their county at the Dome in Tralee.

Roses are chosen by centres throughout the world including Australia, Dubai, the USA, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the UK and of course Ireland. Entrants are initially nominated by local businesses or organisations and take part in local heats to find one person who will represent the centre in the final.

Judges consider many different attributes of the Rose including, in the words of William Mulchinock's song The Rose of Tralee, an indefinable quality that captures "the truth in her eyes". The Rose of Tralee International Festival celebrates modern young women in terms of their aspirations, ambitions, intellect, social responsibility and Irish heritage.

Visit www.roseoftralee.ie for more information on the festival. To download an application form click on ‘How to become a Rose’ on the right hand side of the Home page and send the completed form to monaghanrose@gmail.com

So fill out the application form and join a festival that is full of Irish Heritage, great craic and wonderful friendships, it is an experience not to be missed.