RTÉ radio presenter Ryan Tubridy will again present the Rose of Tralee Festival after his inaugural appearance last year. Anne Lucey reports.
Tubridy will host the televised selection interviews for the 46th Rose contest in August, while 2FM DJ Gerry Ryan will act as master of ceremonies for the first regional selection in Tralee, Co Kerry.
Roses from Carlow, Derry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Offaly, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wicklow will participate in the regional final this month, from which three Roses will be selected to participate in the finals on August 23rd-24th.
The decision to have a regional final to involve new counties was part of a drive to make a more vibrant festival, Mr Anthony O'Gara, the new managing director of the festival, said.
The next five years will see a significant increase in the number of Rose of Tralee centres, all rooted in Irish communities around the world, he said.
Mr O'Gara added that he wanted business as well as social links to grow out of the new festival, which survived after creditors accepted 30 per cent of the €1 million they were owed last year.
"Many individuals and enterprises played an important role in the successful implementation of our rescue plan over recent months. Without the support of our Rose centres and core sponsors it could not have been achieved."
Some 28 Roses will represent centres in Australia, Canada, Dubai, England, Luxembourg, Ireland and the US this year.
Rose selection will be televised live from the festival dome on RTÉ 1.
Sponsors have been whittled down to just six this year, part of a new more focused operation, Mr O'Gara said.
The 2004 Rose of Tralee will be crowned with a tiara designed and created by Newbridge Silverware, the leading sponsor, which will also provide the perpetual trophy.
The other sponsors are: Smart Telecom, Kerry Group, RTÉ, the National Lottery and the Irish Independent.
This year's festival will feature a programme of entertainment on the streets of Tralee.