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Mark Sheehy from Blackrock who has made it as a Rose Escort for 2014.
ONE Tralee man has made it as an Escort for this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival.
Mark Sheehy from Blackrock, Tralee, was among the group of 32 Irish lads who made it through the rigours of the Rose of Tralee Boot Camp for Escorts recently.
“The Rose Escorts spent 48 hours in West Kerry making black pudding in Annascaul, cleaning the vat in Dingle Distillery and swimming with the sharks at Dingle Oceanworld not because the ladies love Milk Tray but because the lads prefer Roses,” said the Rose of Tralee International Festival’s Communications Manager, John Drummey.
“Nearly 200 men aged between 21 and 30 applied to become Escorts at this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival and following a detailed interview process, the final 32 were selected to take part in a Boot Camp weekend in west Kerry to help them prepare for a busy week in Tralee,” said John.
Mark penned his own biography for the Rose of Tralee press release and it’s clear he’s a ‘Fresh Prince of Bel Air’ fan as you can see below.
“In west Tralee born and raised,
On the golf course is where I spent most of my days,
Chipping, putting, acting the fool,
Chasing some tail outside of school,
When a couple of guys that I knew too good,
Decided to move out of the neighbourhood,
We got four plane tickets and our moms got scared,
“Ye’re too young to go to Australia” but sure we didn’t care !!
By the time I came back it was time for college,
So to Dublin I went seeking knowledge,
Now I’m back in Tralee, I’m finally here, the only Kerry Rose Escort for this year !!!”
This year’s Boot Camp activities, supported by Kerry County Council and Údarás na Gaelteachta, were staged in Dingle where the lads had to surf, cycle, carry tyres, fly kites, play tag rugby and build sand castles in order to prove they will have the stamina to be a Rose Escort.
On Monday night, August 18, one of the 32 Escorts will be announced as the Newbridge Silverware Escort of the Year for 2014 and he will walk away with a wonderful prize valued at €5,000.
The 2014 Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place in Tralee from 15-19 August, full details of the International Roses, Escorts and Festival events are available from www.roseoftralee.ie, Facebook and Twitter @roseoftralee_
