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Rose of Tralee photographer Domnick Walsh with Volunteer Rose Chaperones Virginia Costello and Nóirín Ní Loinsigh left Tralee at the crack of dawn today on board the Rose Bus to meet the 57 Roses for their two day Rose Tour in Kildare. The buses are sponsored and branded by Audiology Medical Services.
A THOUSAND outfits, even more pairs of shoes and numerous hat boxes landing into the newly refurbished reception at the Glenroyal Hotel, Maynooth can only mean one thing – the Roses have arrived and the Rose of Tralee pre-Festival Tour of Kildare has begun.
Over two days, the 57 Roses from all over the world will enjoy a “behind the scenes” tour of a few key Kildare flagship locations, before travelling to Kerry for the 2018 Rose of Tralee International Festival.
Kildare Fáilte’s Rose of Tralee Tour will commence on Monday 13th August with a Civic Reception at the beautiful Burtown House, Athy experiencing a ‘Taste of Kildare’ before an Ernest Shackleton-themed adventure to Athy, celebrating the county’s great explorer and taking in the spirit of Gordon Bennett en route.
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The Roses can look forward to a wide range of activities during their stay in Kildare from enjoying some retail therapy at the stunning Kildare Village Retail Outlet to completing St Brigid’s Trail which includes some downtime relaxing at Solas Bhríde Spiritual Centre.
They will also enjoy footing turf at Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Centre, the opportunity to visit Celbridge the home place of Arthur Guinness and a chance to try out their golf in the luxurious surroundings of The K Club.
The Roses will swap their heels for flats when they Roses begin their ascent of Kildare Round Tower, the highest accessible round tower in Ireland, standing at just over 107 feet.
Food is at the heart of Kildare’s tourist offering and Kildare Fáilte looks forward to giving the Roses a preview of the county’s first Taste of Kildare Food Festival which will take place at the K Club on Sunday 19th August.
Also during their pre-Festival Tour, on Tuesday 14th August, some Roses will visit the world famous Guinness Storehouse where they’ll learn to pull the perfect pint and from 10am on Wednesday 15th August, the first full Photocall of all 57 with RTE Presenter, Daithi O Se will take place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The Roses will have lunch at the George Boutique Hotel, Limerick on Wednesday and they are set to arrive at The Rose Hotel, Tralee at 5.30pm.
