Roses visit Offaly as part of national Rose of Tralee tour

The Roses are currently enjoying a trip to Offaly as part of the Rose of Tralee tour around the country.

The Roses are in the county for two days as part of their tour and will arrive by bus from Dublin to Tullamore around lunchtime today for a reception at O'Connor Square. They then visited two local businesses, Linda O'Brien jewellery, which sells handcrafted jewellery and watches in Ballykilmurray, and were treated to a whiskey tasting at the Tullamore DEW Distillery Visitor Experience. They also learned about the history and origins of the iconic brand.

The first day of the Offaly tour will finish with the Mid-Summer Rose Ball in the County Arms Hotel in Birr at which the Roses will enjoy a cocktail reception at 7pm, a four-course dinner at 8pm, and dance the night away with music by The Buckleys.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the Roses will visit Birr Castle, set out from Banagher Marina to take a boat trip on the River Shannon and tour the monastic site of Clonmacnoise before having lunch at the Old Fort in Shannonbridge. They will then depart the village following lunch at the popular cafe.

Cathaoirleach for Offaly County Council, Cllr Eddie Fitzpatrick previously predicted that it's going to be a great occasion for Tullamore and Offaly to have all the Roses in the county.

“I’m sure that there will be TV presence too so it’ll help to promote the county from a tourism point of view. From a Roses point of view you have people from all over different parts of the world so it’s great for the county and I’m sure the Roses and their families will be coming along as well so that will be very welcome to promote Offaly,” he said.