Continuing our Review of 2014, here’s the news we brought you from August…
• We reported that the Entente Florale judges were very impressed with the town when they visited.
“It was a great success. It’s very hard to judge because we had 12 different adjudicators from 11 different countries, but we had a very impressive programme for them,” said Kerry County Council Tourism Officer, John Griffin. (click here)
Roxy with her ‘Nose of Tralee’ sash. Photo by Dermot Crean.
• We told you about Roxy the talking Shih Tzu, which represented Kerry in ‘The Nose of Tralee’ national pet competition.
The ‘Nose of Tralee’ was an online competition being run by ‘Pet Sitters Ireland’, so Roxy and her owner, Maria O’Carroll were asking for your votes to fire Kerry to glory once again in a national arena. (click here)
Continued below…
• Tralee milliner, Carol Kennelly, added another feather to her cap, when the acclaimed designer won the Best Dressed Lady competition at the Dublin Horse Show.
Carol won the competition in a dress designed by another Kerry woman, Tina Griffin, from Killorglin and of course, her own headpiece. (click here)
Sean O’Sullivan with Rory McIlroy.
• Tralee Golf Club President Gerard O’Sullivan got a nice surprise when the world’s number one golfer Rory McIlroy sent him a video message via Facebook, thanks to his nephew, Sean O’Sullivan
“It was a lovely gesture,” said Gerard. “I haven’t seen it myself yet, but I’ve been getting loads of text messages, mainly slagging me!” he said. (click here)
Continued below…
• We reported on the euphoria of Leaving Cert students as they received their results after an agonising wait. (click here)
Glamorous ladies at the Rose Ball.
• We brought you all the glamour from the highlight of the social calendar in Tralee, the Rose Ball.
The €125 a head event kicked off the Rose of Tralee festival. (click here, and here for the photos)
Rose of Tralee 2014, Maria Walsh, in the Rose Garden in the Town Park. Photo by Dermot Crean
• Maria Walsh from Shrule in County Mayo was crowned 2014 Rose of Tralee.
Representing Philadelphia, the 27 year old, just after it was announced by Daithi O Se, said: “It was very surreal. I don’t think it’s hit me. I’m extremely blessed to be representing them all [the Roses].” (click here)
• The Ice Bucket Challenge swept the country during the summer and we brought you many videos of the soakings from schools, pubs and businesses. (click here)
• Many families in town were struggling to cope with the costs of sending their children back to school according to St Vincent de Paul in Tralee.
With uniforms, schoolbooks and stationery, the costs can be crippling according to the charity group. (click here)
• Kerry won an epic battle against Mayo to claim a place in the All-Ireland Final. It took two games but the Kingdom prevailed thanks to fantastic performances from James O’Donoghue and Tralee’s dynamic duo of David Moran and Kieran Donaghy. (click here and here)
