How to Become a Rose

What is a Rose?

The qualities of a Rose are defined by the words of the song The Rose of Tralee and crystallised by the young woman who is chosen as the Rose of Tralee at the end of the International Festival in County Kerry, Ireland every August.

A Rose reflects the intelligence, compassion and independence of modern Irish women. Over the years our Roses have mirrored a changing Ireland and the definition of Irishness that is celebrated by so many different people around the world. Roses have come to reflect the widening of Irish borders and the embracing of our global diaspora in a positive and refreshing way.

A Rose represents the collective aspirations, social responsiblities and ambitions of young women from a variety of communities and backgrounds, united by their desire to celebrate their Irish heritage.

So You Want to Be a Rose? 

All you need to do is complete a Rose Questionnaire and your local Rose Centre will contact you with more information on the Rose Selection events they are holding in your area.

You can download an application form for 2013 here:

 For applicants residing on the island of Ireland:
Rose application form (Word doc)  
Rose application form (PDF)

For applicants residing overseas:  
International Rose application form (Word doc)
Rose application form (PDF)

If you have any questions about your local Rose Selection or to find out if there is a Rose Centre in your area, click on the link to find the locations of our Rose Centres.

There are several criteria that each Rose representing a centre in the final must meet, and your Centre will be able to give you more details of these. 

We wish you every success and perhaps it will be our pleasure to welcome you to Festival 2013 as a Rose!  

What is the Selection Process?

Roses are chosen by centres throughout the world including Australia, Dubai, the USA, Luxembourg, New Zealand, the UK and of course Ireland. Entrants are initially nominated by local businesses or organisations and take part in local heats to find one person who will represent the centre in the final. 

Judges consider many different attributes of the Rose including, in the words of William Mulchinock's song The Rose of Tralee, an indefinable quality that captures "the truth in her eyes". The Rose of Tralee International Festival celebrates modern young women in terms of their aspirations, ambitions, intellect, social responsibility and Irish heritage.

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