Ticket to ride for Rose of Tralee rivals on bus tour
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Host Ray D'Arcy says the 31 contestants for the 2008 Rose of Tralee crown represent the modern face of Ireland
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By Fiach Kelly
Wednesday Aug 20 2008
PART the waters -- the Roses are coming.
But unlike Moses, the competitors in this year's Rose of Tralee festival will be hoping the flood waters don't return and cause problems for people travelling to Kerry for this weekend's festival.
The 31 girls, who are all vying for the title of 2008 Rose of Tralee, were unveiled in Dublin yesterday as they began a tour of the country prior to the start of the festival on Friday.
The Rose 2008 tour bus will take the ladies to Bunclody, Kinsale, the Rock of Cashel and rain-soaked Carlow.
But rather than engage in riotous rock 'n' roll behaviour on the road, the girls have been entertaining themselves on the bus by singing songs, setting riddles, and perhaps getting some tips from Roscommon Rose Triona O'Connor (20) who can complete a Rubik's Cube in a minute.
"It's great," said Tipperary Rose Aoife Kelly. "We have some brilliant singers, but I can't sing -- I'd empty the bus."
The 23-year-old, who was yesterday installed as the bookmakers' choice, said it didn't matter who the punters backed.
"It's down to the judges and everyone here is in the same boat," she added.
London Rose Belinda Brown is moving on after suffering online racist abuse. The 27-year-old, whose father is Jamaican and whose mother is originally from Antrim, spoke out about the people posting abuse.
"They're faceless people to me. They're hiding behind a computer screen. I'm proud of both sides of my heritage," she said.
New York rose Ellen Condron is battling thyroid cancer, but says the illness won't get in her way. "I'm doing really well," she said. "It's going to be great."
Ray D'Arcy, who this year will be hosting the event for the fourth time, said the annual festival was "unique" and claimed there "is nothing else like it".
"It's a part of what we are," he said. "The concept is 50 years old, but there are new contestants every year and they reflect a different Ireland."
- Fiach Kelly
