Roses reunion celebrates 50 years and a win for Britain

WORDS AND PICTURE BY BRENDAN FARRELL
THE ROSE OF TRALEE’s 50th anniversary celebrations may be over with the crown back in Britain at last thanks to London representative Charmaine Kenny — but the good times are still rolling for other Roses down the years.

And that was demonstrated as a girls who have competed as Birmingham and Midlands Roses in the competition got together for a special reunion.

The event was organised by Birmingham’s Ann Tighe — who was the first girl to take the International Rose of Tralee title here to Britain way back in 1967.

So it was fitting that in the year the title returned to Britain again Ann tracked down some fellow competitors to share their memories of the competition. Ann now runs the popular Spotted Dog pub in the Digbeth area of Birmingham with her husband John.

And it was the popular hostelry that provided the venue for the Rose reunion.

The couple had decorated the pub with dozens of past pictures from Rose of Tralee events — most of them culled from issues of The Irish Post which has covered the various events since it was launched in 1970.

A splendid buffet was also laid on with music provided by Donegalman Little Jimmy and a special 50th anniversary Roses of Tralee cake with 50 candles on hand.

At the end of the evening every person present was presented with a special Rose of Tralee souvenir by Ann.

Ann’s idea for the evening came after she met-up with former International Rose Kirsty O’Shea in Tralee last August — and both agreed that a reunion in Birmingham would be a splendid idea. Attracta Burke (nee Hannelly) — also a former Midlands Rose from Northampton — also travelled from her home in Galway to be at the big celebration.

And there was one popular toast at the evening — here’s to the next 50 years of the Rose Of Tralee!

* See next week’s Irish Post for more pictures from the evening.