Punters Choose Favourites for Rose of Tralee Festival

The Rose of Tralee crown-bearer may very well be an Irish native this year.

Dublin and Mayo enter the Rose of Tralee competition head to head as favourites in the bookies for this year's international festival.

The annual Kerry festival attracts thousands to the small town each year in a bid to crown the next year's Rose of Tralee winner.

Dublin and Mayo girls, Arlene O'Neill and Dervla Kenny, both head to the festival week with odds of 3/1 behind them.

The third favourite is Luxembourg's Rose, Nicola McEvoy, a teacher at the European School of Luxembourg. She is placed at 8/1.

The surname and Mayo connection may not have rang any bells with you yet but the Maritime county girl is the niece of Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The 26-year-old works at the National Rehabilitation Hospital as an occupational therapist and wants to open her own coffee shop.

Fair City Rose, Arlene, is 25-years old and is researching a PhD in Trinity College. She also serves as a corporal in the Reserve Defence Forces.

The winner of this year's festival will take the place of Queensland's winner Tara Talbot, last year's crown-bearer.

The annual international festival always promises a week full of fun and entertainment. Picture: Domnick Walsh/Eye Focus Ltd

A Paddy Power spokesman told the Irish Daily Star both themselves and the punters believe the Mayo and Dublin Roses are the ones to beat.

“The Rose of Tralee can always be full of surprises however,” he said. “I wouldn't quite write off any of the other girls' chances yet.”

The newspaper reported on the current wave of emigration, saying many of the Aussie Roses had emigrated Down Under recently.

The festival is held from August 17th to the 21st.

Newly-wed Daithí O'Sé will host the show for the first time as a married man.