Van Morrison was a surprise guest at last night's Rose of Tralee selection.
It had been rumoured earlier in the day he would make a special guest appearance at the end of the first night's selection, which was broadcast from the festival's new home at the Brandon Hotel Conference Centre in Tralee.
Sixteen of the 31 contestants took to the stage last night for the televised interviews with compere Marty Whelan.
First on stage was the Dublin Rose, Ms Frances Carley. The home crowd reserved the largest cheer of the night for the Kerry Rose, a Blennerville native, Ms Rebekah Wall (21), who completed last night's line-up.
Some of the Roses practised in front of the camera earlier in the day, when they modelled merchandise for the American shopping channel, QVC.
Those Roses who were not taking part in last night's televised interviews visited Newcastlewest while their colleagues rehearsed.
The Brandon Hotel, which had come to the festival's rescue last year when high winds and rain made the traditional dome unsafe, last night made its debut as official host for the televised selection.
The general manager, Mr Peter McDermott, said the hotel had been in discussions with the festival committee about hosting the event since 1996, and that RTE technical staff had been part of the design team for the newly-extended conference centre.
The Ulster Rose, Ms Amanda Dunne, is the current favourite with bookies in the town, where she is being given odds of 9/2, with the Kerry Rose at 6/1, and Galway at 9/1.
Each of the Roses has been twinned with a pub in the town for the duration of the festival.
Mr Joe Fitzgerald, of the Rambling House Bar, with which Ms Dunne has been twinned, said she had visited the bar yesterday.
Golden Rose Awards were presented to the National Lottery chief accountant, Mr Noel Browne, and founder and chairwoman of the Texas Rose of Tralee Committee, Ms Phyllis Wells, at a luncheon earlier in the day.
Mr Browne, a native of Kerry, has been a member of the judging panel for the last 3 years. Ms Wells was previously nominated the Dallas Irish Person of the Year.
A surprise award was also presented to a festival committee member, Mr Joe Murphy, who had compered all major festival events in the past.
Previous winners include Mr Dick Spring TD, and Gay Byrne, both of whom were present at yesterday's luncheon.
The 1997 Rose, Ms Sinead Lonergan, who represented France, will tonight pass on her title.