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(click photo to enlarge) The Henggeler family with members of the Tralee Municipal District and council officials at the official opening of the new Rose Walkway on Friday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
IT was a poignant moment for the Henggelers and indeed the extended Rose of Tralee family when the new Rose Walkway was officially opened on Friday morning in the Town Park.
The Rose contestants, local politicians, Kerry County Council officials and a good crowd present, watched as Dick and Eibhlín Henggeler and the Mayor of Tralee, Tom McEllistrim, unveiled a beautiful monument to mark the opening of the walkway, dedicated to the memory of Dorothy Moriarty Henggeler, the 2011 Washington DC Rose who passed away last year.
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The new Rose Walk links the Riverside Walk at Fels Point to the Town Centre, leading visitors through the Rose Garden, and the many commemorations in the park to the Rose of Tralee, including the life size statue of the original Rose, Mary O’Connor, and the author of the Rose of Tralee ballad, William Pembroke Mulchinock, as well as the Rose Wall of Honour.
The Henggelers recently bought the Fels Point Hotel and Dick spoke of the family’s gratitude at the naming of the walkway in their daughter’s memory.
“I would like to say how Eibhlín and I and our family are honoured that the town of Tralee has given Dott this tribute. We’re truly touched by that,” said Dick Henggeler, speaking to those present.
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Dick and Eibhlín Henggeler at the official opening of the new Rose Walkway on Friday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
He also said after Dott took part in the 2011 festival, she wanted to be a part of it every year.
“Now she has been given this tremendous part to play, to be here welcoming the Roses on the walk. That’s what Dott really would have liked to have done,” he said.
“We are highly committed to the Rose of Tralee and we too want to play our part and we want to see the hotel as the flagship for the Rose of Tralee. I also want to thank the people of Tralee who have embraced the Rose of Tralee and make it better and better every year,” said Dick.
Managing Director of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Anthony O’Gara, spoke about Dott and the effect she had on others.
“The spirit of the Festival was alive and well in a great young woman who came to us in 2011. She was full of devilment, full of life, she was an optimist and a people person. It’s just incredible that her parents have come back to Tralee and said in Dott’s memory we’re going to keep the spirit of the Rose Of Tralee alive and we’re going to find a way of helping Tralee to continue to celebrate every great thing Tralee has to celebrate,” he said.
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“Despite the fact that Dick and Eibhlín have been barracked in Killarney for most of their 37 years of visits to Ireland, but we have converted them to being Tralee Citizens No.1,” he said, tongue-in-cheek.
Mayor of Tralee, Tom McEllistrim said Dott “epitomized all that was great about the Rose of Tralee, building relationships with other Rose contestants throughout the world and promoting all that is good about Kerry with those that have left our shores over the centuries but keep the spirit of Kerry alive in their own communities”.
All speakers paid tribute to Kerry County Council for the work they have done for the festival and it’s clear the Town Park is looking better than ever.
The Roses really enjoyed themselves, staying around after the ceremony to pose for photos and sign autographs for the public.
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The Roses at the Rose monument in the Town Park this morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
The Connollys, Norma, Declan, Lauren and Micheál with South Australia Rose Chelsea Thursby-Milovanovi,c who has strong Boherbee connections, in the Town Park on Friday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
New Zealand Rose Maggie Fea and Cork Rose Aoife Murphy give us a wave in the Town Park on Friday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
The Wicklow Rose Megan Swart, Kentucky Rose, Emily Hughes and Louth Rose Jenny Hanlon in the Town Park on Friday morning. Photo by Dermot Crean
