Rose Of Tralee 2009 Notes

Where in The World is Charmaine Kenny?

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:03:00 +0000

Charmaine was to found in Kildare in October. She was visiting her first school, the pre-school 'Young World'.

A quote from the article in the Kildare Nationalist "Owner of Young World, Bridie Corrigan, had all of her pupils on hand to welcome Charmaine in only the best of fashions. The little boys were dressed as escorts while the little girls were dressed as princesses fit to be roses. They held handmade baskets (made at Young World) from which they sprinkled rose petals for Charmaine when she alighted from her pony and trap - helped by her attentive escorts, of course - and onto the red carpet." Bridie is on the left in the picture.

Go here for more of this story.

A Full History of the Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:15:00 +0000

Here is a great book detailing fifty years of the Rose of Tralee. Packed full of photographs and anecdotes it's a joy to read. We don't sell it, but fully recommend T. Ryle Dwyer's book. Get it here, at O'Brien Press.

Washington and Fermanagh

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:12:00 +0000

Tara Maguire, 2009 Washington D.C. Rose had a great time at the 2009 Festival. You must read the Fermanagh Herald for the full story, but we can give you some quotes; "The parade was a totally surreal experience. Thousands and thousands of people lined the streets despite the wind and the rain, and greeted us. It was an amazing welcome and something that we will all hold with us for the rest of our lives. "We got to attend the Fashion Show of the Year. Not only did we get to see some amazing designs, but we also got to strut our stuff on the catwalk! All 50 Roses were on cloud nine".

Why is all this reported in the Fermanagh Herald? Well, Tara is a native of Derrylin. Read it here.

Cavan, Queensland, New Jersey

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:59:00 +0000

Ray with Rose Kelly O'Shea, Queensland Rose

The Anglo-Celt brings us news of the 2009 Queensland Rose. Rose Kelly O'Shea was eleven years old when she was last in Ireland. Like other counties, Cavan is proud of it's connections with the Rose Festival Rose's connection is with Drumcalpin near Butlersbridge.

New Jersey Rose, Genevieve O'Reilly has connections too! Her father, Tom, is from Shercock.

Read the whole thing at the Anglo-Celt.

Longford Well Represented

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:48:00 +0000

Former Longford Roses Grainne Fox and Ciara Kearney with Tommy Butler.

Although Longford had no Rose at the 2009 Final, the county had two of it's former Roses present. They were Ciara Kearney (2008) and Grainne Fox (2007). All of this information comes care of the Longford Leader. And of course Tomy Butler, from Longford was an Escort!

And if al of this is not enough, the Longford Leader goes on to detail many other Longford connections with the Rose of Tralee.

To be found here.

A Foot in Two Countries

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 06:37:00 +0000

The Kerryman paper brings us more news on Charmaine Kenny, 2009 Rose of Tralee. It seems Charmaine will be stretching herself in more than one way, quote from the article " 'I have one foot in London and one foot in Ireland. I don't know where I'll be from here on in,' she said ".

Read the Kerryman here.

London ? Kildare? Charmaine is International

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:28:00 +0000

Here again we have Charmaine Kenny, her family and her boyfriend at the Final night.

The Kildare Nationalist goes big on Chamaine, all because of her Kildare Connections. A quote from the article, "Tributes have been paid to the 26-year-old since her win. Athy Chamber was effusive in its praise, and noted: “Just in case anybody needed reassurance that Athy is a town full of wonderful talented people who bestride the world stage, this year the Rose of Tralee competition had three Roses born in Athy; the Kildare Rose, Erika Kelly, the Syndey Rose, Romy Farrelly and the London Rose, Charmaine Kenny.”

In addition to this, the Kildare Nationalist reported "Labour Cllr Mark Wall also congratulated Charmaine, saying her victory “has certainly put Athy on the international map”.
Read all about it here.

Mullingar makes a claim to Rose of Tralee 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:35:00 +0000

Carmaine Kenny pictured with her family and boyfriend on the final night.

The Westmeath Examiner has a full report on Charmaine and her Mullingar connections. From the article "Her connections with Mullingar are manifold. Her mother Marian (neé Nally) is from Gaybrook while her father, Leon Kenny, is originally from Ginnell Terrace in Mullingar. While they now live in Kildare, where Charmaine was born, the Kennys and the Nallys still live here. Add to that the fact that her escort for the competition was no other than Mullingar post man Gordon Ward and it is hard to see how she could escape the place".

And then there is this "Charmaine's parents Leon and Marian had been convinced all along that their daughter would shine - as was boyfriend Sean Hogan from Waterford who actually entered her in the competition".

Read the entire article here.

The Final Countdown, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:04:00 +0000

From YouTube, but more importantly RTE, comes this clip of the final final part of the Rose of Tralee 2009, culminating in the crowning of Charmaine Kenny.

In Her Own Words, Charmaine

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:32:00 +0000

Charmaine Kenny has penned her own news article in the Herald. It commences "I still can't believe that I'm going to be the Rose of Tralee for the next year. It's finally starting to sink in and I'm getting really excited about the year ahead"
It goes on to detail her experiences during the competition and her hope for the coming year.
Read it online at the Herald, here.

Five Videos to Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:27:00 +0000

RTE has five video clips to watch.
a) Ray interviews the Darwin and Boston Roses
b) Ray with the Roses from Washington, Manchester, Kerry, Yorkshire.
c) Ray (again) with Roses from Tipperary, South Australia, London, Dublin
d) Charmaine Kenny, 2009 Rose of Tralee being crowned

Over to you.......

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:19:00 +0000

Aoife Kelly (2008) hands over the crown to Carmaine Kenny, 2009 International Rose of Tralee. Picture from the Herald.

Charmaine Kenny, The Morning After

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 11:13:00 +0000

The Irish Times has both these pictures of Charmaine Kenny (London Rose and International Rose of Tralee 2009). The article, written by Rosita Boland, is well worth a read if you want to know what happens the morning after!

Read it here, or click the pics above.

37 Picture Gallery of Final Night

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:10:00 +0000

Maybe you would like to see pictures of your Rose? Why not visit this gallery at ireland.com and flick through pictures taken on the selection night - not just Charmaine Kenny, pictured above.

"It's not exactly my colour, Ray"

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:00:00 +0000

Just what is Stephanie O'Dwyer, 2009 Kilkenny Rose, being asked to do by Dr. D'Arcy? Read the Irish Independent to find out.

Boston Rose Stayin' Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:56:00 +0000

The Irish Indendent again! This is Meaghan Murphy, 2009 Boston & New England, dancing the night away with Disco Winner Ray D'Arcy. The article is here.

Charmaine is Everywhere

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:50:00 +0000

The Irish Independent also has the full story about the final night, when Charmaine Kenny, 2009 London Rose, was chosen as the overall 2009 Rose of Tralee. Read it here.

Charmaine Kenny with her Escort

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:42:00 +0000

The Winner!! Chamaine Kenny, 2009 London Rose (and overall 2009 Rose) pictured in the dome with her escort.

Southern California and her Escort

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:39:00 +0000

Brittany Kelly, 2009 Southern California Rose, with her Escort on the final night. Click for larger pic.

The Final Stage on the Final Stage

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:34:00 +0000

Very, very small pic ! Taken by phone, it shows the final speech just before announcing the 2009 Rose of Tralee.

2009 Parade

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:38:00 +0000

Charmaine Kenny - 2009 Rose

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 08:03:00 +0000

This pic is on the Irish Times website - Charmaine Kenny, 2009 Rose of Tralee. A full sory available at their site. From the article -"Management consultant Kenny, who was born in Co Kildare, had said in an interview earlier yesterday that she considered that winning the title “provided a girl with a megaphone and it’s up to that girl to use that megaphone as she wants”.
There will be more.

2009 Rose of Tralee winner is......

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:25:00 +0000

Charmaine Kenny, the London Rose, is the 2009 Rose of Tralee!

Winner here

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:24:00 +0000

The very second the winner is announced it will be here.

See it Live on your PC!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerry) — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Don't forget to log on to RTE for the second night ! At 20.00 local.

Click here.