Rose of Tralee

krudler

Was listening to a few girls talking about this at work earlier, from a ladies perspective, throwaway bit of fun? or degrading beauty pageant? I'd like to think most girls should have higher aspirations than being recognised for wearing silly hats ans sashes and being able to tapdance for judges while talking about hoping for world peace and all those cliches. I dont get how anyone takes it any way seriously, but it does have serious undertones, are women happy to be literally judged on their physical merits?

Eve_Dublin

Fantastic topic Krudler!! For me The Rose of Tralee is a comedy spectacle and nothing more...the writers of Father Ted got it absolutely right with their "Lovely Girls Contest" skit. These "lovely girls" are perfectly entitled to do whatever it is they want to do and in fairness, there's an innocence about the Rose of Tralee that doesn't exist in the Miss World contests...there's no swim wear segment for starters and the women tend to have a brain. Yes, the girls are all young and beautiful, that's kind of a given but I think they're usually judged more on their personalities than anything else and in fairness to them, they usually seem very nice, even if they've come from families living abroad that have adorned one too many pairs rose-tinted glasses thinking of the "Old Country"

I went down to the festival about 10 years ago in Tralee...the party down there is totally seperate from the actual event and it was great craic. The girls were seen as a bit of a joke actually. I think you can take this very, very seriously or you can have a laugh at how out of place the whole event is in 2010 and that's usually what I do.It's too twee to take seriously. I think there's plenty of other contests etc. that really do exploit women and they're the ones worth getting upset over, not this.

I'd be interested to hear what everyone else thinks though.

krudler

Well no matter what way this topic goes, I think we can all agree that its in no way as bad as those beauty pageants for kids, any parent who puts their little girl in one of those should have their "right to parent" membership card revoked.

Das Kitty

The Rose of Tralee is more of a personality contest than a beauty pageant really. A friend of mine was on it one year, thought it was brilliant fun.

IMO it's completely harmless. I think it will die out soon enough though as, let's face it, it's not that entertaining really. It'll go the way of Calor Homemaker / Housewife of the year!

jellie

I dont really see the point of it. I know two girls who were county roses this year that got to regional finals (1 may be in the rose of tralee, im not sure), neither of them exceptionally good looking but quite pretty, and both quite intelligent. But i dont see why it would interest them (or anyone) to be honest

music.babe75

Used to love watching it when I was a kid, looking at all the dresses and trying to predict who would win:D

Dont have much interest (or time) to watch the whole thing now - probably just watch the last few minutes to see the summary of all the girls and see who wins......

MagicMarker

I'd rather watch the eurovision, and that's saying A LOT!!

Malari

music.babe75 wrote: »

Used to love watching it when I was a kid, looking at all the dresses and trying to predict who would win:D

Me too, I loved it and it still reminds me of being on family holidays in Ireland (2010-speak translation: "stay-cations) when I was a child!

But now....no thanks. I get that it's not exactly a beauty pageant but I can't really understand why any intelligent woman would do it. It's incredibly degrading.

twoweekstogo

music.babe75 wrote: »

Used to love watching it when I was a kid, looking at all the dresses and trying to predict who would win:D

Dont have much interest (or time) to watch the whole thing now - probably just watch the last few minutes to see the summary of all the girls and see who wins......

I totally agree with music babe, i used to love watching it when i was younger but now i just couldnt be bothered, i watch the last 15 mins or so of it just to see who wins. I think it seems more special when your between 5-10yrs old :rolleyes:

baby and crumble

I think like a lot of posters have said, it's not as bad as the miss worlds or whatever, that are a bit more... seedy, I suppose. There's no edge like that with Rose of Tralee... Plus I think for a lot of the women it's a chance to travel around Ireland and see bits of it they might not if they didn't enter...

WindSock

It seems to be dying out, thankfully. Hardly even passes for entertainment. I don't know how you 'rate' a person in this way. Is it their looks, ladylikeness, achievements, abilities, their dresses, or a combination of all of them? Do they get their teeth checked also and does the prizewinner get to go home riding up at the front of the car while the rest have to squish into the cattlecar behind. It all seems fairly pointless to be honest. Maybe back in the day it was a large event where the oldies could go and look at de luvley girrrls, being let out of the house after dark to be paraded around on stage like a coy wee harlot but sure women do that every day of the week now, and in less a coyly fashion.

Agent Smith

Sure, dont they all have lovely bottoms....

krudler

Was waiting for that one

panda100

Agent Smith wrote: »

Sure, dont they all have lovely bottoms....

Cracks me up everytime I see that clip

Rose of Tralee is no way as bad as the Miss World's. I say its a good laugh being a Rose and the focus is much more on being a well balanced,all round person than having big bewbs.

Still theres something slightly wrong about a contest for women that only allowed unmarried mothers to participate 2 years ago. Also I dislike the age-limit factor. Do we really need another programme on tv thats all about women under 30 sexual desirability, Yawn!

caseyann

I wouldnt watch it(I used to),But its very important to the tourism and other people in other countries with Irish links.They enjoy it and some girl becomes an ambassador for a year and takes away an experience and so do the others who come over along with the girls from Ireland.And the people of the area.

Leave it alone and it wont die out.

vicecreamsundae

i loved it as a kid, mostly because of the dresses. I watched it a year or two agao for the first time in yeaaaarrs, and was pleasantly surprised by how lighthearted it was -there really didn't seem to be any serious competition and there was a lot of joking around -some of the 'talents' were hilarious! -and i would agree that it's not a beauty contest, and more a personality contest. but still, a FEMALE personality contest.
no matter how you break it down, it's still a bunch of young women [roses, yuck] competing in front of judges to become the winner, and it's something that just has no male alternative... and why do they get fixed up with male escorts?!?!
i can understand why women from other countries would want to do it for the travel opportunity, but really do not see why irish women would want to do it. it is sexist, but i think it is just supposed to be a bit of fun really.

stupidusername

I think the whole idea of these things is a bit silly. do we really need an event like this to formally have people judging us? I would never enter something like this, not just because I wouldn't like the outcome, but because you're putting yourself out there for strangers to decide if you're better than the rest?

It's when I see things like this happening it makes me wonder how are we considered the most intelligent species on the planet

And I know people get judged all day everyday by both the same and opposite sex in a number of ways, but at least that has some standing in society/reproduction rather than just being for the sake of considering yourself 'better' than the other contestants.

Boo to that I say!

On a slightly lighter (and more important note) this has been my 1000th post! yipee!

Shazanne

That Daithi O Se guy will kill it off for good this year so no more worries about Roses with lovely bottoms!
That guy gives me the creeps - it's that really sharp adams apple he has in his throat that looks like it will slice out through his skin - yuck!

Scarinae

Das Kitty wrote: »

It'll go the way of Calor Homemaker / Housewife of the year!

I had never heard of this, so I had to look it up. I found this article on the worst Irish TV shows ever, which included a description of that programme:

Gay Byrne hosted this annual 'Lovely Girls' triathlon for the mature Irishwoman. The finalists' first task was to rustle up a meal. That done, they were given a dab of make-up and wheeled back out to tell how they trapped their man. Having established their desirability in the kitchen and the bedroom, they closed with a party piece that might be a song, or a jig, or a poem in Irish.

In the '90s, the contest was dropped amid complaints that too many women working outside the home were taking part. The morning after what turned out to be the final show, a caller phoned RTE to protest that most of the finalists "would never get down on their knees to scrub the floor".

I'd love to see a bit of a rerun of that, I'd say it's hysterical!

As for the Rose of Tralee, I've never actually seen it - shocking, I know! As other posters have said though, it doesn't seem to have the seediness of the American pageants, it really is more about finding a lovely girl. I'm sure it fits in nicely with the 'Irish' American view of what the Emerald Isle is like

keane2097

krudler wrote: »

are women happy to be literally judged on their physical merits?

Way to completely invent a fake judging criterion there dude :rolleyes:

krudler

keane2097 wrote: »

Way to completely invent a fake judging criterion there dude :rolleyes:

Uh oh, I've annoyed the fervent Rose fans :pac:

keane2097

krudler wrote: »

Uh oh, I've annoyed the fervent Rose fans :pac:

Well are you happy with starting a thread bashing one of Ireland's best known festivals based on a demonstrably false premise?

krudler

keane2097 wrote: »

Well are you happy with starting a thread bashing one of Ireland's best known festivals based on a demonstrably false premise?

Just asking for the girls on here opinions on it

MistyCheese

I think "degrading" is far too strong a term as the women decide to enter, there's no "son at home, crying all alone on the bedroom floor cos he's hungry" argument. I do think it's very patronizing though. People being judged, ordered and then rewarding based on mostly superficial terms.

Sort of like:
Mary's third for being very good at the violin, Joan is the runner-up as she did the dancing very well and of course Assumpta wins this year because she has the best bottom.

They are just as anachronistic as men's wrestling/fighting/strongman contests. Who's the prettiest girl? Who's the toughest man? I don't see as many men offended by these competitions. Generally if you said "That's the guy who won World's Strongest Man" a man is likely to be a bit impressed, or at least say "Good for him." Whereas if you were to point out "That's Miss Ireland!" a woman is likely to sniff "She's not that pretty." (Of course there are exceptions, I'm just talking generally.)

As for

krudler wrote: »

Are women happy to be literally judged on their physical merits?

I personally think the most honest answer is; if they think they will come off favourably, yes. If not, no.

Madame Razz

jellie wrote: »

I dont really see the point of it. I know two girls who were county roses this year that got to regional finals (1 may be in the rose of tralee, im not sure), neither of them exceptionally good looking but quite pretty, and both quite intelligent. But i dont see why it would interest them (or anyone) to be honest

Because they have one of the best weeks of their lives as a rose and some of them have done very well out of being a rose; it raises their profile, even if they don't actually win the Rose of Tralee and some people are into that. and they really do have such a laugh.:)

caseyann wrote: »

I wouldnt watch it(I used to),But its very important to the tourism and other people in other countries with Irish links..

This it is. That's why it started; that's why it remains. It actually means a lot to the region even now. Granted it may not be everybodies cup of tea but it does create employment, maintain jobs and allow people to have a good time (and some women get to wear pretty dresses:p) and especially in the current climate I don't see any harm in doing any of that:)

stupidusername

MistyCheese wrote: »

I personally think the most honest answer is; if they think they will come off favourably, yes. If not, no.

So do you mean to say the ugly of us out there are the only ones that will think this is a bad way to judge people? :eek:

MistyCheese

stupidusername wrote: »

So do you mean to say the ugly of us out there are the only ones that will think this is a bad way to judge people? :eek:

It's natural to want to be judged on your strengths.

stupidusername

MistyCheese wrote: »

It's natural to want to be judged on your strengths.

Well ya, but does that mean that people who don't enter these are only against them because they're bitter and ugly?

panda100

Are there restrictions to entering the Worlds strongest man? Some of those men look a lot older than 28? And I think some of them maybe unmarried fathers too :eek: Do they not know their living in sin!

When is Rose of Tralee on anyways/ I usually watch it with my mum as its her favourite show

spudd

think you'd be hard-pushed to find a single contestant who has ever mentioned world peace in the rose of the tralee. it's not a beauty contest, never has been. and as for it dying out, people have been saying that for years, but it's in it's 51st year and is still going strong - Tralee is always buzzing during it

wouldn't be my cup of tea, but know several former roses and every single one of them had an absolute ball for the week/ ten days of the festival, and the months before and after it.

caseyann

FUtoo wrote: »

Because they have one of the best weeks of their lives as a rose and some of them have done very well out of being a rose; it raises their profile, even if they don't actually win the Rose of Tralee and some people are into that. and they really do have such a laugh.:)



This it is. That's why it started; that's why it remains. It actually means a lot to the region even now. Granted it may not be everybodies cup of tea but it does create employment, maintain jobs and allow people to have a good time (and some women get to wear pretty dresses:p) and especially in the current climate I don't see any harm in doing any of that:)

I know if i had of been anyway confident growing up i would have loved to do it.I would love to go see it ,i might just.

Blush_01

I used to think the Rose of Tralee was a bit outdated and twee, but to be honest I was involved in something similar (on a much, much smaller scale) last year as a "contestant" and being honest I'd be hard pressed to say when I had as good a weekend before or since. I'm a "fine lump of a girl" (code for built like a pot-bellied brick sh!thouse with a head) and at no point was I ever made to feel like I was being judged on my looks.

If you go to something like the Rose of Tralee or its ilk with a view to winning you've already wasted your time. Personality competitions like that are primarily about fun and getting to know new people. You can only avoid having fun if you actively try.

Neyite

i was a 'lovely girl' in a local contest a few years ago:o

i represented the company i worked for - i got a 100 euro for representing them, plus about 300-400 for my dress, hair, makeup, plus a few paid days off work sipping glasses of guinness (no pint glasses permitted for the lay-dees:D) while all my colleagues were working. whats not to like?

i have absolutely no discernable talents suitable for the stage, so HR got me an irish dancing lesson or two tobring me up to scratch.

there were a few girls who were very competitive, and some were definately using it to further their profile - i still see one or two crop up regularly in the local paper at the charity fundraiser dinners and the like.

for the rest of us,to be honest, it was a laugh, and i didnt take it seriously at all. from day one the organisers made it obvious that they had earmarked one contenstant for the title, she actually was the county Rose, some of the more competitive girls sniped that she was chosen to raise the profile of the local festival as a rose, but i thought she was quite nice and friendly - a true 'lovely girl' IMO my OH still reckons i wuz robbed:p but i knew from the off that i was an outsider in the race. i still have the dress, and the sash, and my little crystal trophy....they are precious to me in a cheesy sort of way.

i would never do a 'beauty contest' with the bikinis and all, i like the 'Father Ted-ness' of our ones - i think it is classic irishness, a bit of craic, and not taking it too seriously. and as for the kiddie pageants, they are creepy.

Lia_lia

Neyite wrote: »

i was a 'lovely girl' in a local contest a few years ago:o

Yeah, so was I. It was probably the most boring night of my life. Even my Granny found it boring! Left after the winner was announced, changed out of my dress and went to the pub :rolleyes:

Ah the Rose of Tralee is just a bit of a joke. The festival is good craic. Brings some business to our county!

fionav3

music.babe75 wrote: »

Used to love watching it when I was a kid, looking at all the dresses and trying to predict who would win:D

Me too! Used to peruse the TV Guide picking out my favourites the week before. I loved watching it with my Mum and seeing what the were wearing! Haven't watched it in years though, lost interest.

Shazanne wrote: »

That Daithi O Se guy will kill it off for good this year so no more worries about Roses with lovely bottoms!
That guy gives me the creeps - it's that really sharp adams apple he has in his throat that looks like it will slice out through his skin - yuck!

ROTFLOL! Agreed! Agreed! Although my mother has an awful crush on him, can't understand it!

MistyCheese wrote: »

I personally think the most honest answer is; if they think they will come off favourably, yes. If not, no.

I agree. It's human to want to be looked up on favourably, if anyone thought they would be criticised (for any sort of compatition or public event) then I don't think they'd do it.

Personally, I think the Rose of Tralee is just a bit of craic and brings buisness to the country. Like people have already said it's in no way as bad as the whole Miss World thing (now that does make me shudder) and I wouldn't think any different of the contestents for having entered.

NickDrake

WindSock wrote: »

It seems to be dying out, thankfully. Hardly even passes for entertainment. I don't know how you 'rate' a person in this way. Is it their looks, ladylikeness, achievements, abilities, their dresses, or a combination of all of them? Do they get their teeth checked also and does the prizewinner get to go home riding up at the front of the car while the rest have to squish into the cattlecar behind. It all seems fairly pointless to be honest. Maybe back in the day it was a large event where the oldies could go and look at de luvley girrrls, being let out of the house after dark to be paraded around on stage like a coy wee harlot but sure women do that every day of the week now, and in less a coyly fashion.

Is it dying out?? Record numbers watched it last year on TV

WindSock

NickDrake wrote: »

Is it dying out?? Record numbers watched it last year on TV

Oh, really? I just presumed it was :pac:

LittleBook

Fishie wrote: »

I had never heard of this, so I had to look it up. I found this article on the worst Irish TV shows

Calor Housewife Of The Year

Gay Byrne hosted this annual 'Lovely Girls' triathlon for the mature Irishwoman. The finalists' first task was to rustle up a meal. That done, they were given a dab of make-up and wheeled back out to tell how they trapped their man. Having established their desirability in the kitchen and the bedroom, they closed with a party piece that might be a song, or a jig, or a poem in Irish.

In the '90s, the contest was dropped amid complaints that too many women working outside the home were taking part. The morning after what turned out to be the final show, a caller phoned RTE to protest that most of the finalists "would never get down on their knees to scrub the floor".

Brilliant! :pac:

NickDrake

WindSock wrote: »

Oh, really? I just presumed it was :pac:

It is as still as strong as ever. No matter what is said out it, it is a fantastic 2 weeks for the Roses. They are treated so well and have a ball. Meet loads of new people and treated like a princess by their escorts.

Also its a great time for their families. You have to rememeber most of the roses are from abroad so they would love this event and so would their families.

jellie

FUtoo wrote: »

Because they have one of the best weeks of their lives as a rose and some of them have done very well out of being a rose; it raises their profile, even if they don't actually win the Rose of Tralee and some people are into that. and they really do have such a laugh.:)

I wasnt bashing it or anything (i only bash tralee :pac:) I have no feelings towards it either way really, just never really saw the attraction of it One of the girls is a friend on facebook and has made a facebook profile as the county rose too and has gotten really into it & seems to be really enjoying everything that goes with it, i just didnt really understand the draw towards it

WindSock

NickDrake wrote: »

It is as still as strong as ever. No matter what is said out it, it is a fantastic 2 weeks for the Roses. They are treated so well and have a ball. Meet loads of new people and treated like a princess by their escorts.

Also its a great time for their families. You have to rememeber most of the roses are from abroad so they would love this event and so would their families.

Maybe it is great craic for them, but I still can't fathom how they judge a person to win the contest.

NickDrake

WindSock wrote: »

Maybe it is great craic for them, but I still can't fathom how they judge a person to win the contest.

Have you ever been down there?? They are judged over a full week. There is a LOT more than going on stage. Generally they have a fair idea before they go on stage.

The Judges have a tough job but they have a week to find out. Seems like plenty of time to me.

More of the roses are very well educated young women and it is not a pagent.

WindSock

I haven't been down there, no. No interest, really. Didn't know it went on a while, I thought they were judged on stage. I do know, me ma was runner up to Dublin Rose before though.
Maybe she should've aimed for the Calor Gas Housewife thing instead :pac:

Penny Dreadful

Fishie wrote: »

I had never heard of this, so I had to look it up. I found this article on the worst Irish TV shows ever, which included a description of that programme:



I'd love to see a bit of a rerun of that, I'd say it's hysterical!

As for the Rose of Tralee, I've never actually seen it - shocking, I know! As other posters have said though, it doesn't seem to have the seediness of the American pageants, it really is more about finding a lovely girl. I'm sure it fits in nicely with the 'Irish' American view of what the Emerald Isle is like

My mother was in the Housewife of the Year contest:o:D

Fizgig Bandicoot

I think it's a ridiculous thing. The lovely girls competition on Fr. Ted captured it wonderfully. 2 of my friends have entered the competiition for the Wexford rose, and I was really surprised by them as I thought that they were very feministic, and I would have considered the competition to have objectified women.

I also think it's really boring!

smallerthanyou

I unashamedly love it! I like watching, judging dresses and chatting with friends on who we think might win. It is a bit twee but the type of women who win are generally smart well educated and seem personable. In an era of LiLo and those Irish girls who pose in knickers on Grafton St there are worse things girls aspire to be.