'I've never felt so supported in my whole entire life': Cork Rose prepares to take to the stage

Preparations are underway as this year's cohort of Rose of Tralee contestants get ready to take to the stage this evening.

Rehearsals are taking place at MTU this Monday, where some of the roses are getting ready to wow the public with their gowns and performances.

The Echo caught up with Cork rose Lexi Linnane and Newfoundland & Labrador Rose, Kathleen Murphy.

“I will be doing a lyrical contemporary routine tonight, which I am so excited for. I got a beautiful costume handmade by The Dressing Room Cork, which I'm really grateful for,” Lexi said.

“Yesterday was huge actually for Cork. I feel like everywhere I went I was hearing 'up the Rebels' every two seconds.

“The swarm of red, flags, and Cork jerseys was just so special to see. I've never felt so supported in my whole entire life.

“And a lot of my family and a lot of my friends are all coming tonight. They bought tickets originally for the Tuesday night, and when they found out I was on the Monday they're like, 'Oh my God, we need to get the Monday tickets now'.

“So, they'll all be coming two nights now, which I'm so grateful for,” Lexi added.

Thirty years ago, Kathleen Murphy’s parents said “I do” in St John’s Newfoundland. Now three decades later, the Newfoundland & Labrador Rose wore her mother’s wedding gown during her Rose of Tralee journey.

“It was actually kind of a last-minute decision. A couple weeks ago, I was trying to source dresses to wear on the tour because you had to be dressed to such a high standard. I actually set a goal for my year to not buy any new clothes.” 

After a look in her mother’s closet, she picked her wedding dress.

“There's a lot of stories behind the dress as well. My dad just went into a shop one day and picked it out from a department store, my mom wore it on the wedding. We're very, very casual like that. But it was really special to wear it,” Kathleen said.

Steve Cronly, director of operations at the Rose of Tralee International Festival, said there is a wrong perception the Rose of Tralee is “just a two-night TV programme”.

“It’s much more. We've met 10 days ago, we took the girls on a whistle-stop tour of Ireland.

“We went into Obama Plaza and on to Limerick, Limerick on to Killarney. It’s actually how the girls get together and do team bonding and team building,” he said.

Mr Cronly said the 32 contestants all look out for one another, adding: "These young ladies will be friends for life.” 

The Rose of Tralee airs on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, Monday and Tuesday from 8pm.