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National Final - 2013

The National Final of the Rose of Tralee -
tickets, accommodation, schedule, contestants! Everything you need to know.

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Past National Finals

Meet the contestants, and see what they got up to in the past few National Finals.

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Get involved

If you're a young single woman of Irish birth OR descent, you could enter the Rose of Tralee

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2008

The Final

Photos

Images from the 2008 National Final

The 2008 Roses

Sarah & Hayley get to know each other at the Mayoral Reception Judge Siobhan gets to meet Hayley, Martha and Suzanne Sonia introduces herself to Judge Jim Martha and Suzanne discuss the quality of the food Sarah Davidson and Sara Dwyer grab a snack at the Mayoral Reception Councillor Hislop catches up with Emma Coffey, this year chaperoning the Roses Suzanne Smith chats to Mayor Wayne Guppy from Upper Hutt Argene listens attentively to the speecch by Mayor Ogden of Lower Hutt The two Mayors with the contestants The Local Rose, Aislinn Ryan with Mayor Guppy and Mayor Ogden Sarah is brought into the Irish Society by Eleanor and Annie-Mae Hayley meets her junior escorts Beth and Caitlin Sarah was escorted by a dashing Conor Peoples ... ... while Suzanne was looked after by the Fiach and Mary Gahan ... ... and Aislinn by Aoife Lake Argene was the guest of the Regan girls - Molly and (obscured) Bridget Sarah was brought in by Rebecca Sarah seemed to attract quite a junior following Argene was an animated conversationalist Hayley Beach helped out by Beth and Caitlin The Roses all had a small gift for their escorts And then the first 'interview': Sonia up first ... ... Suzanne ... ... Argene played a piece she composed and is currently recording ... ... Aislinn danced, despite the confined space The judges enjoyed their task, despite the serious of it Martha entranced the audience with her unaccompanied singing And Hayley (almost) enjoyed the interview Sarah lined up the compere to help with her reading of a children's story Sarah took the opportunity to pass on some advice from her experience Aislinn was a close observer of proceedings Saturday morning - fine and warm - at the NewDowse Gallery ... ... where they were met by the Director ...who talked about the exhibitions ... ... and took them on a guided tour ... ... around the gallery The top of Wellington's Cable Car ... and of course the obligatory ride down in the Cable Car ... to Lambton Quay for a brief and brisk walk ... to Kirkcaldie and Stains ... for a welcome ... a spot of morning tea and a few mementoes of their visit .. ... and then of course a chance to explore ... ... and 'shop' ... ... they are young women after all ... ... and the hats WERE fetching ... When there is too many choices ... ... always seek advice The Doorman as always, was pleased to see the Roses Around the corner was the Black Harp for lunch then it was back to the Van ... ... for another sight-seeing stop on Mt Victoria then back to Lower Hutt The 2008 contestants dressed and ready for the Grand Ball Sarah Dwyer lead them in ... followed by Sarah Davidson ... Hayley Beach ... Sonia Burling ... Suzanne Smith ... Aislinn Ryan ... Argene Montgomery-Honger ... Martha McSoriley Introduced to the audience and ready for dinner A dancing display by the Kildunne Dance School and HVIS President Shirley Duffy and her husband David lead off the dancing while Shenanigans played on and the bar staff kept the drinks flowing The Judges prepared for the final decision Suzanne O'Rourke gave perceptive and insightful comment ... ... about each of the Roses ... ... before Sarah Dwyer was able to announce the winner ... ... Aislinn Ryan from the Hutt Valley Irish Society ... ... who received her tiara ... ... and winner's sash from Sarah ... ... to the applause of her many supporters ... ... and took her place before the audience and the other Roses ... ... and finally a congratulatory kiss from her partner and escort Tim

All of the photos above are courtesy of Emotif Photography. They have a full album of photos from the weekend available online.

Listen to Elizabeth as she talks about winning the 2010 NZ Rose of Tralee title

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“The New Zealand Rose will represent the entire Irish community at the International Final.”