The History of the Rose of Tralee
"She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer,
Yet 'twas not her beauty alone that won me.
Oh no, 'twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning
That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee."
EDMONTON - The Rose of Tralee is a love song about two young people whose love was discouraged by their families. Eventually they parted and the young man immigrated to North America.
After many years passed, the young man returned to find that the woman he loved had died.
In 1959 the people of Tralee created a festival to rejuvenate the town and encourage tourism. It was suggested that the festival be named the Rose of Tralee International Festival and that it be used to strengthen the link to the famous song and to reflect this event worldwide.
Today, young ladies selected as Roses travel from centers as far away as Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, United States, the United Kingdom and Canada to attend this annual festival.
This year, the Edmonton Irish Sports and Social Society invites entries to be selected as the Edmonton Wild Irish Rose of 2007. The successful candidate will represent Edmonton in Ireland at the Rose of Tralee International Festival.
Applications are due on March 15 and the selection dates are April 19 to 21. All entrants must be at least 18 years of age and must not have reached their 28th birthday before August 15, 2007.
Must be unmarried, never married, and without any dependants. Of Irish birth or ancestry and able to verify this if required. Must be someone who has not represented any centre at the national or international level of this event.
To obtain an application, to submit a completed application for more information, contact Moira Quirke, the co-ordinator of the Edmonton Wild Irish Rose Centre by telephone at (780) 456-0818, (780) 87-2851, by e-mail at: edmontonrose@hotmail.com, or by mail at 1428 - 148 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta T5X 1B2. [For more information about the Rose of Tralee International Festival, visit: www.roseoftralee.ie.
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