The Rose of Tralee International Festival and Rose Gathering (August 14 to 20 ) is under way and the Abu Dhabi Rose, Sara Moffatt, is excited ahead of her Rose journey.
Abu Dhabi Rose Sara, who is from Crossmolina, said: “To say I am excited about the coming few weeks is a complete understatement. All the organising and preparations are nearly done and I think I can honestly say 'I've shopped until I've dropped' - what a great complaint for any woman.”
The televised selections will be broadcast live on RTÉ One on Monday August 19 and Tuesday August 20 from the festival. Coverage on both nights will start at 8pm, with a break for the Nine O’Clock News.
Fourteen years after Westlife played at the festival, it was also announced that the band’s former front-man, Shane Filan, will make his solo debut on RTÉ Television during the Rose of Tralee live broadcast on August 20. Shane said: “I'm so excited about my first live solo performance at The Rose of Tralee, and coming home to Ireland makes it all the more special.”
For the very first time, between 9pm and 9.30pm during the show RTÉ Digital are offering online audiences an opportunity to view exclusive live footage backstage from the Rose of Tralee festival..
The Rose of Tralee International Festival is Ireland’s annual Gathering since 1959 and it is estimated that well over five million people have been to the festival during the past 54 years.
A bonus for Sara and each of this year’s Roses will be their inclusion on a new Rose Wall of Honour that will be erected in Tralee Town Park. Commissioned by Tralee Town Council, it features a number of laminated glass and stainless steel walls which will be inscribed with the names of the 1,700 or so Roses who have taken part in the Rose of Tralee since its inception in 1959.
