Disappointing - NO escorts for Kilkenny this summer!
Six Kilkenny escorts took part in last year's Rose of Tralee festival in Co Kerry
There's disappointment across Co. Kilkenny this week - as it's revealed the county has no escorts in this year's Rose of Tralee festival!
Last summer there were six men from Kilkenny involved, alongside another three lads who had strong links to the county. However, Kilkenny is not so lucky this year.
The festival broke the news on Monday, as organisers gave a glimpse into the pre-festival bootcamp that this year's group of escorts went through to prove they can make the cut! Click HERE for all the photographs. There are 32 escorts this year - six from Cork, three from Armagh, Dublin and Kerry, two each from Monaghan, Meath and Galway, with 11 other counties represented, including one from London and one from Vancouver!
This year's Kilkenny Rose is Lisa O'Rourke, from Castlecomer. It's two years since Kilkenny had a Rose, with Castlecomer's Molly Coogan taking part in the Kerry festival in 2022.