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Aisling Foley, Moira King Fitzgerald, Michele King and Kerina Ó Ciardubháin at the official opening of the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
FASHION icon Celia Holman Lee was in town on Friday evening to officially open a special exhibition of the dresses worn by winning Roses of Tralee over the past 60 years.
Kerry County Museum in Tralee is hosting the exhibition which charts the changing styles over the decades and it’s an absolute must for anyone with an interest in fashion.
Some former Roses were in attendance to have a look and bring back some memories. The exhibition includes 40 dresses over six decades, from Alice O’Sullivan’s gown in 1959 to the present.
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In the early years, the Roses either made their own dresses or bought “off-the-rack”. From 1978 the competition was broadcast live on RTE and this had a major impact in the following decades.
Designers became keen to get their styles shown on one of the nation’s most-watched TV programmes, and many of the gowns on display were designed specifically for the occasion.
The dresses are part of a wider context in fashion trends and some are very much of their time, notably the 1980s with its puffy sleeves and flouncy skirts.
Styles have become sleeker since then, with designs aiming for timeless elegance. The exhibition continues until October 31. Scroll down for more…
Breda Walshe and Margaret O’Sullivan at the official opening of the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Celia Holman Lee with Oonagh O’Gara at the official opening of the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
Alison Boyle and Pat Boyle at the official opening of the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Rachel Deasy, Jane Deasy and Denise O’Sullivan at the official opening of the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
Karen Pullen, Johnny and Mary Foley and Mark Teahan at the official opening of the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
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Some of those admiring the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
Some of the dresses at the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
Some of the dresses at the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
Some of the dresses at the ‘Gowns Of Glory’ Exhibition at Kerry County Museum on Friday evening. Photo by Dermot Crean
