Cork lifeboat volunteer Griff has Rose of Tralee escort role

Crosshaven RNLI volunteer crewman James (Griff) Kelleher has a big date at the upcoming Rose of Tralee Festival. He has been selected as an escort to a Rose of Tralee contestant.

Griff has no idea which of the Rose contestants he will partner, but is eagerly looking forward to his ‘date’.

Griff, 21, is an active member of the Crosshaven RNLI crew, having joined a year ago.

He recently passed his Tier 1 competent crew assessment and is now qualified to crew the lifeboat on service calls, or ‘shouts’.

Griff is a manufacturing engineering apprentice at JNJMedtech in Ringaskiddy, manufacturing titanium medical implants. In his spare time, Griff is a racing sailor.

Crosshaven RNLI Lifeboat operations manager, Philomena Maguire, told The Echo:

 ‘This is a major event for Griff, and I am sure he will represent the Rose of Tralee festival and the RNLI well. 

"We wish him all the best for his week of fun in Tralee. 

"We hope the Rose, whoever she is, will visit the lifeboat station with Griff after the festival.”