Roses go cross country on tour to Tralee

Meath Rose Elysha Brennan, Melbourne Rose Joy Kerrigan, New Zealand Rose Maggie Fea and Germany Rose Roisin Ni Mhathuna take the tour at the Guinness Storehouse yesterday

Elaine McCahill

The Rose of Tralee tour is in full swing as the women hoping to win the famous tiara next week experience a real Irish holiday first.

The bus has gone cross-country making stops at some of our best known attractions, including Lough Rynn Castle in Leitrim and Croke Park.

Contestants were also treated to a walk around the Guinness Storehouse yesterday and have made a pitstop at Newbridge Silverware and Barretstown Camp in Kildare.

When they finally get to Tralee they will meet with one of the competition most famous previous winners, Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain.

It's 10 years since the Mayo teacher took the prize and she is planning a reunion at the festival.

"There's loads of girls from 2005 who are coming back from America with their kids and their husbands, so it's going to a massive reunion of all the escorts and Roses," she said.

"It'll be so nice to catch up with everyone," she said.