Ebullience and aptitude in the mix as Roses do party pieces

THE FIRST 16 Rose of Tralee aspirants took the stage in Tralee last night, while their proud parents and siblings, hailing from five continents, roared names, shed a tear, shredded tissues, waved banners and perspired in the clammy embrace of television cameras and 1,400 spectators under the starry Dome.

It may be just as well that 91-year-old Rory Barnes from Churchtown, Dublin, went home earlier in the week, "overwhelmed by the beauty", grinned his daughter Barbara, mother of the South Australian Rose, Lee McClenaghan.

"I think he just wanted a snooze," sighed Barbara's exhausted husband Ken.

Last night's 16 included a commercial banker, a bar/restaurant manager, an artistic director of a theatre company, an Irish dance teacher, a chartered accountant, an occupational therapist, a mentor for children of prisoners, a primary school teacher and a real estate auditor, plus a slew of undergraduate and masters candidates.

The nine chosen to perform their party pieces produced the usual combination of chancing-your-arm ebullience and accomplishment.

A gentle rendition of Gabriel's Oboeon the flute by Cork Rose, Niamh O'Hanlon, was swiftly followed by the Jumbo Breakfast Roll, belted out by New Jersey's Rita Talty, who manages Lazy Lanigan's Pub and restaurant, the family business.

New Zealand's Aislinn Ryan kicked her heels to a Riverdancetheme, carrying the undoubted advantage of having been the female lead on the touring show for a couple of years.

And there was a smattering of poetry from San Francisco's Jamie Lundy and Dubai's Emma Dwane.

Louth's Carol Ann Keenan played Bare Necessitieson her cornet while Liverpool's Fiona McConnell accompanied herself on guitar, singing The Lakes of Ponchartrain.

Earlier, the 31 Rose escorts - whose self-effacing sponsors each put up a €2,000 entry fee - had put in a bit of practice with Ray D'Arcy, who was hosting the show for the fourth year.

Their co-ordinator, Colm Croffy, says the festival gets about about 65 applications - and the selectors look for lads who are "debonair, diplomatic, can carry a conversation and have a roguish side . . . " Pop Idolwannabes need not apply because "as we know", he said, turning to his line-up of tuxedoed lads, "the Rose of Tralee is about the . . ." - pause, before the lads chorus in unison - "Roses".

They looked as wary in rehearsal as any of the Roses. Later, they had their own beauty contest - a kind of Rosette of Tralee - when the top three, nominated by the Roses for Escort of the Year, were named as Peter Cooney, a bank official from Wexford; Donal Droney, an architectural technologist and senior player with Naas RFC; and Ben Tighe, a regional sales manager with Studio Eyewear.

And their secret? "Following orders," said Droney.

His offering to his Roscommon Rose of a whopping hamper from his joint sponsors Aveo Beauty Spa and RFL Steels from Naas would have helped, no doubt.

His spontaneous presentation of a Naas rugby jersey, however, ran the risk of having the opposite effect entirely. Ben reckoned he probably scored by being the piano player and general entertainer. And Peter? "Just being myself." Plus "a few little strawberries from home," he lied.

We know he lied because his New Jersey Rose sighed later that not only had the old charmer sent up champagne but a "Build-a-Bear" kit to make her own little bear. Gratifyingly - from a female point of view — it was the man who follows orders who took the prize.

A snitch from the escorts' camp suggests that the betting is on Cork, Derry and Tipperary, with Dromey's Roscommon Rose, Triona O'Connor, as an outside bet. There was also talk of some serious money being placed with one bookmaker on the Sydney Rose.

Watch out for her Rubik Cube party trick on part two coming your way tonight.