The 45th Rose of Tralee Festival got under way yesterday with the arrival in Kerry of the contestants from many parts of the world.
The Roses stopped first in the Kerry village of Tarbert, in the Shannon estuary. They lunched at the Lanterns restaurant before arriving in Tralee, where they met their escorts for the festival.
This was before the performances by the Hothouse Flowers, the Dublin City Ramblers, a fireworks display, the Catch A Fire Bob Marley Tribute and a ball for 1,000 people to open the six-day festival.
There have been a number of changes this year aimed at refreshing interest in the festival, in response to complaints about the event losing its appeal.
The new presenter of the Rose selection on RTÉ television on Monday and Tuesday nights is the youthful radio personality, Ryan Tubridy, who replaces Marty Whelan. This year, too, sees a new tiara, designed at Newbridge Silverware.
Ms Siobhan Hanley is the new chief executive of the festival. She takes over from former Rose Ms Noreen Cassidy.
The Irish Naval ship, the L.E. Eithne, has docked at Fenit, the port of Tralee, in honour of the festival. Kerry's only native escort, Lieut Tom Hobbins, is representing the Navy - the first time the Naval Service has sponsored an escort.
The Roses are to make a formal visit to the the L.E. Eithne over the weekend.
According to the rules, the 26 women must be between 18 and 25 years old and must be unmarried and without children.
This year's Roses include a high number of business, economic and commerce students and graduates. The Roses with a business head include Kerry Rose Ms Jessica Lyons (18); Dublin Rose Ms Orla Tobin (22); Galway Rose Ms Aoife Mulholland (25), who is also a music graduate; Luxembourg Rose Ms Deborah Maher (25); and Darwin Rose Ms Jess McNeill (21).
There are also a number of primary school teachers and students. Ms Joanna O'Keeffe (20), representing Cork, is a student primary school teacher and England Rose Ms Charlotte Doherty (23) intends to teach fulltime.
There is at least one student nurse, Ms Edel Ryan (25), representing South Australia.
Music and drama students also figure largely in the professions and interests of this year's Roses.
During the week there will be plenty of musical fare, ranging from Juliet Turner and Brian Kennedy teaming up at the Dome on Sunday night to a tribute to Count John McCormack presented by RTÉ's Kevin Hough on Wednesday night.
A highlight on Saturday night will be the Kerry Group international street parade with the Roses on floats accompanied by Chinese dragons, pipe and brass bands, samba and accordion. It begins at 8.30 p.m.
The Rose of Tralee festival brings 250,000 visitors to Tralee and is responsible for 160,000 bed nights, according to a recent Bord Fáilte report. Long-term plans for a permanent centre have not yet materialised.