Fiction: The First Rose of Tralee Patricia O'Reilly Poolbeg, paperback, 300 pages, €15.99 Unlucky: Mary O'Connor, the 'original Rose' Ann Dunne Fri 24 May 2019 at 18:30 ...

It’s hard to know what Mary, the original Rose of Tralee – the one in the song – would make of the Rose of Tralee festival. She was, apparently, a 19th century maid who was in a relationship ...

It's the song that inspired the Festival that gives us one of the most watched shows of the year. But how well do this year's 65 qualifiers know the famous Rose of Tralee ballad?

Words well worth hearing at any time. Night two of the Rose of Tralee Festival airs on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 8.00pm on Tuesday ...

One of my cousins was called Mary O’Connor. The women laughed. And told me about the other Mary O’Connor, known as the Rose of Tralee who had lived more than 100 years ago.

A look back at one of the festival’s most famous sons, the late Liam Heaslip The late Liam Heaslip at his home in 2015 when he received a visit from 2014 Rose of Tralee, Marie Walsh.

Oh no, twas the truth in her eyes ever dawning, That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.” This song caught the imaginations of a group of budding entrepreneurs in 1950s Tralee.

The Rose of Tralee will be broadcast live on RTÉ One from 8pm on Monday and Tuesday. There will be a break for the Nine O'Clock news both nights and both shows are due to end at around 11.25pm.