Mayor of Tralee, Cllr. Pat Hussey and current Rose of Tralee Nicola McEvoy inspect one of the 18 glass panels which will form part of a permanent memorial.

Calling all former Cavan Roses

Damian McCarney

Published: Sun 4 Aug 2013, 12:00 PM

Last updated: Sun 4 Aug 2013, 1:05 PM

Organisers of the Rose of Tralee Festival are trying to contact former Cavan, and Cavan born, Roses for a very special tribute event which takes place during the festival later this month.
All former Rose finalists will have their names inscribed in a glass wall of honour in the Tralee Rose Garden, which will be unveiled on Thursday, August 15.
The glass wall will be located around the Jeanne Rynhart memorial in Tralee’s Town Park. It’s part of The Gathering of Roses tribute being hosted by the local Town Council to salute former rose contestants.
Some 1,701 Roses from 70 centres throughout the world have participated in the event from 1959 to 2012 and a special commemorative booklet is also being published to mark the occasion.
Cavan has had its own Rose Centre since 2005 when Julie Ann Sheridan was selected to represent the county but prior to this Cavan rose contestants participated in the Ulster rose selections. All will have their names inscribed in the Rose Wall of Honour in Tralee for perpetuity.
The Tralee Town Council will host a reception afterwards to which former Roses and their families are being invited. So if you are a former Rose finalist and would like to be part of the event contact thegathering@kerrycoco.ie 066 712 1322. This year’s festival runs from August 14-20.