Rose fever to grip Ballinasloe as Tralee comes a calling....

Rose of Tralee fever is set to grip the Midlands next week as the 50 contestants visit a number of areas in the region including Shannonbridge, Ballinasloe and Tullamore as part of their countrywide Rose tour. The glitz and glamour of the world famous festival touches down firstly in Tullamore, on Wednesday next August 19, as the group stop off for a special reception and parade, and no doubt, to enjoy some of music and craic at the Fleadh Cheoil, which will be in full swing in the town until August 24 next. After lunch in the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore, the Roses then travel to nearby Birr Castle and Gardens for a tour of the historic site and science centre, before leaving for a photocall in the village of Moneygall, now indelibly linked with Barrack Obama since its discovery as the birthplace of the US President's great-great-great grandfather. The packed day ends with a boat trip from Shannonbridge to Ballinasloe Marina, where the fifty ladies will be met by local schoolchildren, all winners of the 'Design a Rose for a Rose colouring competition', organised by the Carlton Shearwater Hotel and Spa in the town at 6pm. The group will then be wined and dined at a special Rose of Tralee Charity Ball at 7.30pm in association with The Stargazer Lily Foundation, a local fundraising foundation, which aims to raise funds and awareness of the services provided by Cancer Research Ireland, Galway Hospice and Portiuncula Patient Comfort Fund in the hotel as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations for the famous pageant. Among the contingent will be Ballinasloe man Ronan Keary, who works in AIB Athlone and will act as an escort for the duration of the event, the only person from the Athlone area to do so this year. The evening promises to be one not to be missed as the public will have a chance to meet and greet the Roses at a wine reception with a four course gala meal and music with Mike Denver and DJ Fergal Darcy. Ticket prices are €40 per person and can be purchased at the Carlton Shearwater Reception or call 090 9630500. On Thursday the Roses wake up luxury spa treatments courtesy of the Carlton Shearwater Hotel and Spa, one of the tour's main sponsors before embarking on the next step of the Rose Tour to Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, and then on to the Carlton Castletroy Hotel in Limerick for an overnight stay and a visit to Adare the following day. On Friday the Roses arrive in Tralee where a special welcome awaits them and festivities begin in earnest for the 2009 Rose of Tralee International Festival - Celebrating 50 Years.