Snake charms wild Roses
Monty the python puts squeeze on beauties
Zookeeper and Rose of Tralee escort Brendan Walsh and Monty the python with Dublin Rose Susan Roe (centre) and Cavan Rose Tara Cunningham at Dublin Zoo yesterday
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THE female of the species is more deadly than the male, but not, apparently, if you're a 10-foot Burmese python.
Brendan Walsh (30), a zookeeper at Dublin Zoo and escort at this year's Rose of Tralee Festival, brought two of the Roses on a private tour of his outdoor office yesterday.
But, within minutes, Monty the python was putting moves on his unsuspecting visitors.
Despite Dublin Rose Susan Roe getting a tail coiled around her legs, the unflappable trainee solicitor kept smiling for the cameras.
But Cavan Rose and animal-phobe, Tara Cunningham, required more encouragement before she tentatively stepped forward and gingerly hoisted the rabbit-munching reptile onto her shoulders.
"They have killed and eaten people," said their tour guide -- who was perhaps too informative on this occasion.
Cuddly
The two ladies were hoping to meet "cuddly" zoo residents, and a look of terror flickered across Tara's face when she set eyes on Monty.
But their next port of call, the fluffy ring-tailed lemurs, were hardly any better.
"They can bite, so if they do jump on you, just relax . . . it would only be a small nip anyway," said Brendan.
By now the Roses were wondering what exactly they had got themselves in for. After all, they had signed up to represent their county, pose with bonny babies, and put the chat on Ray D'Arcy.
Within seconds, the feisty lemurs were trying to steal their silk sashes and pilfer their coveted crowns. But, like true professionals, the Roses kept on smiling as the critters hung off their dresses and scraped their shoulders as they clambered about in search of grapes.
"I loved it, I'm quite nervous around animals so I'm overcoming a few fears today," said a relieved Tara as she emerged from the enclosure.
Both women were enthusiastic about their host, and said whoever gets him as their escort would be a lucky lady indeed.
Brendan said he fought off a number of "Colin Farrell-lookalikes" to land his spot as one of 50 escorts. He has already undergone etiquette training and was taking a waltzing lesson last night.
"I probably won't get an Irish Rose, it's more likely I'll get an international one," he said.
And he hasn't ruled out the prospect of finding love.
"I am single so if it happened then I'd be happy," he revealed.
- Breda Heffernan
