First of all, take a look at the winner who represented Cork
Congratulations to her.
Geraldine O'Grady
Isn't she lovely?
Geraldine is 21 and a student at UCC and is currently taking a year out to travel and to study drama before returning to UCC to do a Masters in History. After her studies she would like to pursue a career in Public Relations or in the Media.
Her father Patrick, is a member of the Garda Siochana (the Irish Police) originally from Limerick and her mother is originally from Cavan. Geraldine has two sisters and they all with her in Tralee for the Festival.
Well, I had a great week at the festival so read on and hear all about it!
Me by the Rose of Tralee memorial on the night of the Rose Parade
Now, everyone has had their embarrassing moments, but none as embarrassing as standing in the middle of a crowded airport with over 100 multi coloured spikes sticking out of your head!!
Me on a Horse with my rollers in a shower cap! (well it does rain a lot in Ireland). That's my dad next to me.
It was horrible! And what made it worse was I went to bed at gone Ten o'clock the night before, didn't fall asleep until Twelveish, and then got up at five o'clock the next day to go to the airport! My older brother, Sister-in-law, nieces and nephew were coming with us to Ireland from Germany so my mum, dad, older niece, nephew, and me crowded into the car along with two or three cases.
Whilst in my brother's car, my brother, sister, sister-in-law, and youngest niece were lounging with two or three smaller cases and one less person!
Anyway, we arrived at London/Stansted airport and tumbled out of the car and inside the building where the horror began!
You know that funny customs bit at the airport, well at that stage my hair was a quarter finished and everyone who was going on holiday or working there was looking and laughing, and I really wished that I had my hair normal! Anyway, we had shown the whole airport what an idiot I looked and we finally got on the plane. An hour later, we arrived in Ireland and surprisingly it WASN'T raining!! (Anyone who's been there will understand!)
We drove and drove and drove until over five hours later we arrived in Tralee Co. Kerry,
where we spent half an hour looking for our cottage that we were staying in, and it would have been relatively simple but the instructions we were given were typically Irish!
This is MY
KERRY!
By now it was six o'clock and I was due in the parade at eight! So I visited my nan, and then got some crisps and sweets to eat because I was now absolutely starving.
I got into my dress and shoes etc. and waited for the organiser Peter Maguire to tell me where to go. He eventually arrived and told me there was a slight hiccup and I thought "FAB!!"
My dad also saw a motorbiker being told to get ready to take a passenger and thought it might be me.
But then I was told I was riding in a white open top Mercedes and would be leading the parade ahead of all the Roses! I had my very own driver called Sean who was dressed up like James Bond!
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Hey, It's Me! |
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I sat riding for over an hour waving my arm off and smiling like mad!! Everyone was cheering and taking my picture. At the very end I was announced as an All England and All Ireland Dancing Champion! Not quite true, but it sounded good! He, He, He...! I must have had 100 photos taken of me and most of these were for the papers and T.V.
Take a look at these clippings and you'll get the idea.
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I also appeared on a Gaelic Tv programme called TnaG. Haven't got a clue what it means! E-mail me if you know! Then for the next few days we went to pubs, discos, Firework displays, fairs, and last but not least we watched various bands around Tralee including the fantastic Beautiful South on the final night. There were about 20,000 people all singing along and dancing in Denny Street in front of the enormous stage.
Unfortunately we missed the Godfather of Soul (as my dad called him anyway) James Brown on the Friday because we were still in England that night. Dad was a bit miffed at that I can tell you!!!
Then there was an Irish night with several Ceili Bands where I danced a solo Reel in the Gig Rig (A special Guinness lorry transformed into a stage) with the Mid Kerry Biddy Group.
I was introduced as a special visitor from Dublin this time!!! Well it was half right, we did fly into Dublin!
This started over an hour late because another band - called Jupiter Scream - had to come on before the night started as instead of performing at one of the other stages they were filming their next video.
The week ended with the Beautiful South concert followed by the presentation of the new Rose of Tralee. After the celebrations were over, there was a big party called Midnight Madness where all the Roses and Public Parrrrtyyyy!
I couldn't stay for this but I did see the best firework display I have ever seen.
So overall, my week was certainly a case of
'If you go to this festival your life will be better'
Fabulous!!
Back to Irish Dancing with the BAD or Back to Irish-dancer
OR The Rose of Tralee website