The 32 Roses taking part in this year’s International Rose of Tralee Festival 2011 were introduced to the media for the first time today (Tuesday 16 August) at a photocall in RTÉ. Roses representing Irish communities from Tipperary to Texas to Toronto were joined by host Dáithí O Sé to announce details of this year’s broadcast.
RTÉ Television will broadcast the International Rose of Tralee Selection live from the Festival Dome from 8pm on Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 August on RTÉ One, with a break for the Nine O’ Clock News.
Last year a peak of over one million (1,074, 500)* viewers tuned in to RTÉ One to see Clare Kambamettu, the 26-year-old assistant psychologist London Rose, originally from Athy Co Kildare, crowned as the 52nd Rose of Tralee. An average of 916,300 viewers watched the final show after RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News – the highest number in over a decade.
Rose of Tralee fans from around the world can tune in to watch the competition online and support their local Rose. RTÉ.ie will be streaming the international festival live at www.rte.ie/player . For those who miss the live event or would like the chance to see the girls in their finery again, RTÉ Player also offers a 21 day catch-up TV service, giving everyone a chance to see one of Ireland’s biggest festivals! Catch up on the RTÉ Player for the Rose of Tralee is available worldwide not just in the Republic of Ireland.
-Ends-
Date: Tuesday 16 August, 2011
Contact: Rayna Connery, RTÉ TV Press and Publicity, (01) 208 3169/087 982902 rayna.connery@rte.ie
Notes to editor:
• Images will be sent to picture desks by Kyran O’Brien on behalf of RTÉ
Source: TAM Ireland Ltd/ Nielsen TAM, Live data, National Individuals
*peak-minute audience of 1,074,500 viewers at 11.15p.m.
**average audience- The average number of viewers across a programme or series, expressed in 000s. TV viewing is measured minute-by-minute, so the average audience is the average across all of these minutes
• Rose of Tralee Presenter History
Dáithí O Sé 2010 and 2011 (2 years to date)
Ray D’ Arcy 2005 – 2009 (5 years)
Ryan Tubridy 2003 and 2004 (2 years)
Marty Whelan 1997 – 2002 (6 years)
Derek Davis 1995 and 1996 (2 years)
Gay Byrne 1974 – 1994 (20 years)
Kevin Hilton, Joe Lynch, Terry Wogan, Brendan O’Reilly, Michael Twomey were early presenters. Although there had been highlights prior to that, Joe Lynch presented the first live broadcast by RTÉ in 1967.