Rose of Tralee contestants to visit Moneygall later today
The Offaly village of Moneygall will today (August 11) welcome the 32 contestants for this year's Rose of Tralee International Festival.
The contestants are due to arrive at Barack Obama Plaza, Moneygall at 4.30pm, where they will be greeted before sampling an upstairs reception and exhibition of Irish dancing.
The roses – which this year includes participants from nearby counties Westmeath, Roscommon and Tipperary – will be travelling through Offaly as it continues the traditional Rose Tour, which officially began yesterday with the Black Tie Summer Rose Ball, at Knightsbrook Golf Resort & Spa in Trim, Meath.
During a packed day of travel today, the contestants will also visit places in Dublin and Kilkenny before eventually arriving to Castletroy Park Hotel & Leisure Club, Limerick for a gala dinner.
On Wednesday, the tour will continue its journey for Kerry, and will be meeting and greeting the local communities of Listowel and Ballybunion before arriving at its final base, the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee on Thursday.
Tullamore native Steve Cronly is the festival's Director of Operations and told the Offaly Independent: “We are really getting going now. It is a fantastic family festival full of fun and laughter. It is not only a great opportunity for people to represent themselves, their families and communities, but also to be ambassadors for their towns, counties and then, possibly, for Ireland, as the Rose of Tralee's global representative for the following year.”
Last year, Steve was delighted to welcome one of his own, the 2025 Offaly Rose Nicole Heffernan, to the festival. The primary school teacher from Killeigh was crowned on April 20, 2025, at the Tullamore Court Hotel and went on to represent Offaly at the international festival last August. Steve described Nicole as “a credit to her county” and said that she represented the Faithful County with style, grace and personality.
The Roses will be welcomed to Barack Obama Plaza by Supermac's managing director Pat McDonagh and the reception will be hosted by Rose of Tralee committee member Ollie Turner, who will conduct interviews and provide entertainment with the contestants. A group photograph will be taken at the plaza's Barack Obama statue. The Rose of Tralee International Festival takes place from August 14 to 18, and the contestants will take to the stage at the Kerry Sports Academy, at Munster Technological University, on August 17 and 18.