Roses to bloom at Tralee show

Roses to bloom at Tralee show

10 August 2016

TWO local women will hit the road to County Kerry next week for the annual Rose of Tralee Festival.

Down Rose Fainche McCormack will join Newcastle Upon Tyne Rose Aisling Murray, who is originally from Newcastle, County Down, at the Dome for the annual event, which will run from August 17-23.

They will be among 65 roses from all over the world who will be at this year’s extended Festival which will include parades, a funfair and circus, 70 hours of entertainment, fashion show and fireworks displays.

Nineteen year-old Fainche is the second youngest of four children from Grinan, while 24 year-old Aisling, a medical student, is a former pupil of St Mary’s Primary School, Newcastle, and Assumption Grammar School, Ballynahinch.

Fainche, who says she is passionate about family, friends, helping others, music, education, travel and new experiences, said she expected her passions to grow during her year as the Down Rose, while Aisling said representing Newcastle and Gateshead was a means of celebrating her Irish heritage, which she does not want to forget despite living in England.