A bit of tropical temptation as the tourist Roses go underground

The Rose of Tralee was not unlike the American reality TV show Temptation Island , the New York Rose - the bookies' favourite…

The Rose of Tralee was not unlike the American reality TV show Temptation Island, the New York Rose - the bookies' favourite - said yesterday while visiting a tourist attraction cave on the Roses' first touch down in Kerry for the 46th annual festival.

Elizabeth Kee said the comparison between the tropical and steamy central American Republic of Belize where the reality TV show of romance and temptation was based and the cool caverns of the limestone stalactites and stalagmites of Crag Cave and the "innocent" Rose of Tralee were not all that far-fetched.

She had arrived in Belize in September 2000 among a group of people she did not know and had made friendships which lasted. "It's very similar being here. You never know what to expect. Around every corner is a surprise".

Elizabeth, a fashion student, was making odds of 4/1 ahead of England's Angela Crowley, Cork's Ruth Kenneally, Dublin's Joanna Cullen and Texas Rose Caitlin Lowry, who were bunched together at 7/1 for the title at Boyle Sports bookmakers alongside the Rose centre at the Brandon Hotel in Tralee, Co Kerry, yesterday.

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Father Kieran O'Shea, the parish priest of Knocknagoshel, was at the cave yesterday with owner Ms Margaret Geaney to keep an eye on the Roses.

The talk in Crag where the Roses were surrounded by little girls looking for their autographs was of "the ball" and "the boy".

They would later become aware just who was escorting them to the Rose Ball last night and who would be their escort for the next five days. They were "all on edge wondering who we will end up with", said Kerry Rose Olivia Dineen.

"We may find out on the bus," the Queensland Rose, Sophie Cleary, a fine arts student said. "They've been teasing us all day and all night."

Like Cinderella, she had "a lot of work" to do to get ready for the ball where she would don a strapless red dress with a fish tail, she admitted.

It was 1.30 a.m. at least before she got to bed the previous night and she was a bit tired. They were having so much fun "you don't notice what time of day it is," she said.

Tiredness however did not prevent Sophie from going the extra mile for at least one of the little girls who lined up for her autograph.

As with some of the other Roses yesterday, the Rose's signature was accompanied by a lengthy message.

"Thank you for coming to see us. You girls make our 'Rose' experience very special. You are lucky to grow up in such a beautiful country," Sophie wrote in one little girl's book.

For Cork Rose, arts student Ruth Kenneally, and for Dubai's Louise

Smith, a teacher, the visit to Portumna Castle in Co Galway was one of the highlights so far.