Cavan Rose Lisa makes Rose of Tralee finals and TV cut
There's good news for Cavan this morning as Cavan Rose Lisa Reilly (26) has been selected to represent her county in the Dome during the televised stages of the Rose of Tralee.
The Ballinagh lass will take to the stage on Monday night after she was successful in the semi-finals in Tralee earlier this week. Monaghan Rose Pamela Allen has also made the cut and too will feature on Monday night's broadcast; while the Longford Rose will feature on Tuesday evening.
It's the first time in seven years that a Cavan Rose has made it to the live TV stages of the Rose of Tralee finals.
Speaking to the Celt this morning, Lisa said: 'It's a huge honour for both me and my family. I had no expectations coming down here only to be myself and to represent Cavan in a favourable light. It is now a fantastic honour to be chosen to also represent Ulster alongside my beautiful friend Pamela Allen, the Monaghan Rose. I am so excited to have her by my side for this experience.
'All of the Ulster girls are extremely close so it is bitter sweet but myself and Pamela will do our best to represent them all and do them proud.'
The full list (in no particular order) of 32 Roses for TV are:
- MONDAY 22nd August – Kilkenny, New Orleans, Cavan, Kentucky, Monaghan, South Carolina, Ottawa, Germany, Cork, Abu Dhabi, Kildare, Queensland, Louth, Sydney, Scotland, Newcastle/Gateshead, Newfoundland & Labrador and Roscommon
- TUESDAY 23rd August – Melbourne, Kerry, Texas, Offaly, Philadelphia, Galway, Chicago, Wicklow, Ohio, Longford, North Carolina, London, New Zealand and South Australia
65 Roses began their journey to Tralee on Friday 12th August and over the past 11 days, they have all enjoyed every aspect of the annual Rose Tour of Ireland and the Festival in Tralee.
The Executive Chair of the Rose of Tralee International Festival, Anthony O’Gara, said: “RTE can only accommodate 32 Roses on Live TV which is why we needed to stage a qualifying phase during the first few days of the Festival. Every Rose has enjoyed the full festival experience by traveling on the pre-Festival Tour of Ireland before taking part in the parades, attend the Rose Ball and the various Festival functions in Tralee. I wish to thank our two judging panels who, as always, had a difficult task to select the final 32 Roses for TV. Ultimately, there can only be one Rose of Tralee and each of our 65 Roses are looking forward to finding out who that will be.”
A new Judging panel of six people, Chaired by RTÉ Presenter Mary Kennedy, will engage with 32 Roses over the coming three days, while all 65 Roses will continue to participate in Festival events in Tralee.
Such is the continued success of the Rose of Tralee on TV, RTÉ are introducing a third Rose of Tralee TV programme from this year onwards - The Road to the Dome will be aired on RTÉ One at 6.30pm on Monday 22nd August.
The Televised Selections will be broadcast as usual at 8pm on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd August on RTÉ One.
The 2016 Rose of Tralee will be crowned live on RTÉ One at around 11pm on Tuesday 23rdAugust.