So whats really happened this week with the Rose Of Tralee!

Here goes ...as far as we can tell here in the Tralee Advertiser ..

1. Press release put out earlier this week by Anthony O Gara , Chairman of the Festival Of Kerry , stating that the MTU will once again be the venue for the 2 Rose Selection nights on TV , and also that the Festival would step away from organising a street entertainment programme this year and that there would be no Rose Ball this year , being replaced instead with ‘a new , more affordable and accessible event ‘ ( citing mainly cost issues as to the reason why )

2. Kerry County Council released a press release on Wednesday afternoon after meeting with the Festival members stating that ‘ A family Festival will go ahead during this years Rose of Tralee ‘

3, Already meetings and conversations are happening between Tralee Chamber, Tralee Vintners VFI , Kerry Co Co , Tralee Municipal District members and the Festival , with VFI Chairman Johnny Mc Elligott ( Sean Ogs ) stating that he was ‘supremely confident ‘ that a full street entertainment programme will be put together by the business community and the people of Tralee He said that a preliminary plan could be in place within the next week or two.

...In essence , these are issues that have faced the Festival and Tralee in years gone by before ...Remember when Mark Sullivan( Rose Hotel ) and Danny Leane Snr ( Abbey Inn ) were responsible for organising the collection for the Street Entertainment Fund , when the Festival was saved from fading away by Anthony O Gara and his team , nearly 20 years ago ! When there was no Dome for a few years , in order to cut costs , and the Festival was based in the Brandon Hotel , managed by Hotel Supremo Peter Mc Dermott ( now the Playdium owner ) and the Rose Ball happened in the Conference Centre for a few years ( I know , I was the Rose Ball DJ ! I still am ,,,well I was until this week ! ) And when it was former Festival GM Oliver Hurleys wish to ‘Get the Dome back ‘ and that happened too after the Festival relocated to the Rose Hotel ...Believe me , Anthony O Gara is right when he says he believes’ the people of Tralee will rise to the challenge provided by this opportuinity ‘ . There is enough ability , brain power and confidence in this Town to ensure Irelands longest running and biggest Festival