Rose of Tralee

The Rose of Tralee festival is an international contest which is celebrated among Irish communities all over the world. The festival takes its inspiration from a nineteenth century Irish ballad of the same name about a woman called Mary, who because of her beauty was called 'The Rose of Tralee'.

The Rose of Tralee festival is held annually at the end of August in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, to choose a young woman to be crowned the Rose. The winner is selected based on her personality and should be a good role model for the festival and for Ireland.

Each year the Christchurch Irish Society hosts the Canterbury Rose of Tralee competition. The Canterbury Rose then competes in the New Zealand Rose selection later in the year. The winner of the New Zealand Rose selection gets to travel to Tralee, Ireland in August to represent New Zealand in the competition.

ROSE OF TRALEE FINDS CONTEST A ‘BIT OF CRAIC’

EXERPT FROM CHCH PRESS 10/05/2010

A 26-year-old Christchurch nurse has been crowned Canterbury's Rose of Tralee.  Karen Lynch, who moved to New Zealand three years ago, won the regional heat of the worldwide festival that celebrates Irish women in Christchurch on Saturday night.  Lynch was looking forward to the national final on June 5 in Invercargill, but remained modest about her chances.

"There's going to be so many other girls at it, but it's a bit of craic and it's good fun," she said.

The Roses are judged on personality, not beauty.  Contestants must be unmarried, aged 18 to 28, and be Irish-born or of Irish descent. 
Lynch and four other contestants had to undergo two interviews before the winner was chosen by the three judges.  Organiser Laoise Condon, of the Christchurch Irish Society, said the night was a success. The international final is in Ireland in August. 

Karen Lynch, Canterbury Rose winner 2010