By Dan Walsh
Thirty-three contestants in the Rose of Tralee International Festival are on the Wexford Rose Tour this week with local celebrity status focused firmly on the Wexford Rose, Joy Quigley from Ferns.
I will be joining the Wexford Rose Tour at Enniscorthy Castle at 9am tomorrow (Saturday) morning, but some information is coming in about the tour so far which is taking place in record-breaking weather conditions.
On Thursday the Roses checked into the Ashdown Park Hotel in Gorey where they became acquainted with the local welcoming party and they enjoyed a light lunch and then it was back on the bus!
Next stop was Johnstown Castle for the Wexford County Council Reception and greeted by Mayor of Wexford Cllr Maura Bell and the Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, Cllr George Lawlor, who spoke eloquently and waxed lyrical with a rousing rendition of the popular tune ‘Rose of Tralee’.
At Johnstown Castle, Taste Wexford prepared some grazing boards packed with local Wexford producers for the Roses to sample.
The next stop of the tour was Wexford Quay where the Roses were treated to some fish and chips by The Cheeky Cod followed by some Scúp Gelato ice-cream. The final stop of the tour was back to Gorey town where the Roses were welcomed by the local community and business owners. Cllr Donal Kenny, Cathaoirleach of Gorey-Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council made all feel welcome as if he knew the names of every one of them as they alighted the bus and 33 times he uttered the immortal words – ‘Welcome to Gorey’.
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