Offaly designer's dresses worn by two Roses

Birr woman and designer Geraldine O'Meara designed and produced the gowns for this year's Galway and Kilkenny Roses.

In an Instagram post, she paid tribute to the Galway Rose Clare Ann Irwin and said "it was a pleasure to design and make her gown, in sapphire blue Duchess satin.”

Geraldine also dressed this year's Kilkenny Rose and has designed gowns for Roses for the past five years. “I was delighted to have dressed the Offaly Rose the year she became the Rose of Tralee. That dress is now in the exhibition of dresses worn by the Roses of Tralee for the past 60 years.”

According to Geraldine, the Roses usually have an idea of what they want to wear in advance of meeting her. “The Galway Rose wanted something classic and simple. She originally wanted red but I suggested sapphire blue. She was very easy-going and left it to me.”

Meanwhile, this year's Kilkenny Rose wanted a princess style dress which required a lot more work with Geraldine having to make a hand-beaded bodice.

The local designer added: “I get anxious because I hope nothing goes wrong putting on the dress and that it looks the way I had hoped on TV.”

The Galway Rose Centre thanked Geraldine for her expertise on Instagram. “Thank you to the wonderful Geraldine O'Meara who designed Clare Ann's stunning stage dress for her TV interview with Dáithí Ó Sé.”