We are delighted to announce that Raphoe native Catherine McCarron has been selected as this year’s Donegal Rose!

26-year-old Catherine, proudly sponsored by Kelco Communications, was selected to represent Donegal at the Regional Finals of the International Rose of Tralee festival this year at Harveys Point at the weekend.

Catherine was among ten of the beautiful Roses to be interviewed during the day with a panel of judges on an individual basis and also partake in a group interview.

In the evening Catherine and the Roses attended a Gala Dinner in Harvey’s point with Master of Ceremonies Noel Cunnngham, interviewed each of the girls onstage. The evening included performances with the Roses, entertainment by Jason Friel and music by DJWJ to dance the night away before Catherine was ultimately selected as the Donegal Rose.

The Rose of Tralee International Festival is one of Ireland’s largest and longest running festivals, celebrating 54 years in 2013. The heart of the festival is the selection of the Rose of Tralee, which brings young women of Irish descent from around the world to County Kerry, Ireland for a global celebration of Irish culture. The festival also includes street entertainment, carnival, live concerts, theatre, circus, markets, funfair, fireworks and our internationally renowned Rose Parade.

The one million people tuning into watch the selection nights next August will only catch a glimpse of each Rose’s amazing journey along the way to Tralee.

That journey starts in towns and villages all over Ireland! Selection events will be held in every county from March until June with the Regional Finals of the Rose of Tralee taking place in June and the Rose of Tralee International Festival in Tralee in August.

We would like to wish Catherine the very best on luck on her continued venture. Stay tuned for more on how our Donegal beauty gets on at the Regional Finals in June.