TraleeToday.ie’s coverage of the Rose of Tralee International Festival is brought to you by AIB Tralee…
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Rose of Tralee Jennifer Byrne. Photo by Dermot Crean
THE new Rose of Tralee thought her heart was going to jump out of her chest when she heard her name called out by Daithi O Se last night.
Jennifer Byrne, a doctor from Clonderrig, Co Offaly was crowned 2017 Rose of Tralee in front of 2,000 in the Dome and almost one million TV viewers. She is the first from the Faithful County to take the title in the Festival’s long history.
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Speaking straight after the announcement, Jennifer Byrne said: “I think my heart is about to jump out of my chest but I’m really, really excited but I genuinely can’t believe it, it’s fantastic. My first thought was ‘did Dáithí actually just say my name, I wasn’t really expected it at all’. I thought ‘this is going to be incredible’. Maggie McEldowney is an unbelievable representative for the Rose of Tralee and I’ll be asking her for a few tips because I have got big boots to fill now.”
Jennifer (24) was presented with her sash and tiara by 2016 Rose of Tralee Maggie McEldowney and Robbie Scanlan, Managing Director of Tipperary Crystal, lead sponsors of the Festival.
She was greeted by thousands of people on Denny Street for the Midnight Madness Parade and fireworks display.
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Jennifer Byrne has encouraged Irish women everywhere in the world to consider entering the 2018 Rose of Tralee: “It has been absolutely fantastic. Even meeting up in Kildare we had a great time getting to know the girls, the very first night we got into our county jerseys and comfortable clothes and we really bonded as a group from there. From Kildare we came to Tralee and the Festival has been incredible, the parade was definitely the most fantastic experience of my life – well up until now anyway. I have enjoyed every minute of it and I have made such good friends with the girls and they are all incredible women”
Next year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival will take place from 15-21 August and online Rose applications are now being accepted at www.roseoftralee.ie
