A BBC sports presenter, a West End singer and a Star Wars star... just some of the talented women who made their made their screen debut on The Rose of Tralee

Published: 21:43, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 21:46, 14 August 2026 It’s an enduring fixture in Ireland’s social calendar; a celebration of nostalgia, wholesome tradition and global connection that is now in its 67th year. This weekend, the annual Rose of Tralee International gets underway with 32 women, from all over the world, including Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Texas and Toronto taking part in the competition. The five-day festival culminates in the crowning of the Rose of Tralee, a year-long ambassadorial role for the winner.  The Roses participate in festival events, Rose parades and two nights of live television, with the winner unveiled on the second of the two nights. The announcement of the Rose of Tralee, broadcast by RTÉ, is one of the country’s most watched TV programmes. While the increasing diversity of the Roses in recent years might be seen as a nod to changing times and a changing Ireland, the competition isn’t without controversy, with critics denouncing it as regressive and outdated.  Those involved with the festival say the Roses must represent the ‘aspirations, ambitions, intellect, social responsibility and Irish heritage’ of women today, but the naysayers argue that the inclusion of an escort or chaperone for each Rose is an insult to modern women. Its widespread appeal remains, nonetheless, and for many of those competing in the Rose of Tralee, it has proven to be a springboard into careers in the media, communications, politics, theatre, academia and finance. Here’s a look at some well-known Roses who went on to find fame. The Match of the Day co-host, who is the daughter of former Welsh international footballer and manager Terry Yorath  Later said she only entered the competition ‘as a favour’ for one of her dad’s friends, who sponsored a contestant every year BBC sports presenter Gabby Logan, née Yorath, represented Leeds in the 1991 Rose of Tralee. The Match of the Day co-host, who is the daughter of former Welsh international footballer and manager Terry Yorath, later said she only entered the competition ‘as a favour’ for one of her dad’s friends, who sponsored a contestant every year. Former rhythmic gymnast Gabby told Gay Byrne at the time: ‘I want to go into TV. I want your job.’ And her determination and confidence paid off. She went on to present Final Score for BBC Sport from 2009 until 2013 and many live sports events, including the Olympics. She also co-hosted Splash on ITV with Vernon Kay. Talking about her Rose of Tralee experience on RTÉ Radio 1’s Sunday with Miriam, Gabby, who is married to former Scottish rugby player Kenny Logan, said it was a ‘brilliant, mad’ time. ‘Every time I meet anybody around the world who is of either Irish descent or lived in Ireland and I mention the Rose of Tralee, there’s 10% to 20% more warmth towards me,’ she said. Anna Geary as the Cork Rose and in more recent times Radio and TV broadcaster, All-Ireland winning camogie captain and author Anna Geary was Cork Rose in 2014 and described it as the best experience of her life. That same year Anna led the Cork ladies’ camogie team to the All-Ireland title. After taking part in the Rose of Tralee, Anna went on to win three All-Ireland Club medals in 2013, 2014 and 2016. She also has four All-Star awards. In 2015, she joined series three of Ireland’s Fittest Family on RTÉ One as a coach, reaching the final with the Daverns in her debut appearance. In 2016, she won with the Cummins family. Anna, who hails from Milford in Cork, is a regular contributor on TV and radio and has her own health show Supercharged on RTE Radio One on Sundays. She is also a best-selling author and in 2018, she competed in the second series of Dancing with the Stars. A qualified personal trainer, she married Dublin man Kevin Sexton in 2019. The couple have two young sons, Ronan and Evan. Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin is an Associate Professor in the School of STEM Education, Innovation & Global Studies at Dublin City University, Aoibhinn was crowned the Rose of Tralee in 2005, representing Mayo. In 2007, she capitalised on her success in the competition by appearing as a panellist on the RTE Two topical comedy TV show The Panel and was a hit with the viewers. Aoibhinn then appeared on Celebrity Bainisteoir, managing a GAA team from Kiltimagh, before transitioning into science communication, broadcasting and academia. An Associate Professor in the School of STEM Education, Innovation & Global Studies at Dublin City University, she hosted RTÉ science shows such as The Science Squad and ten Things to Know. She also presented travel show Getaways on RTÉ, as well as The Fleadh Cheoil programme alongside John Creedon from 2014 to 2018. Aoibhinn married Carlos Diaz in 2017, with whom she shares three children, Naoise, Darragh and Doireann. Maria studied journalism at Griffith College, Dublin before moving back to the States to live and work in New York  Representing Philadelphia in the Rose of Tralee in 2014, Maria Walsh was another winner. Born in Boston in 1987, she later moved with her family back to her father’s native Mayo, where they set up home on a farm in Shrule. Maria studied journalism at Griffith College, Dublin before moving back to the States to live and work in New York. She relocated to Philadelphia in 2011 but returned to live in Ireland permanently after winning the Rose of Tralee three years later. Following the competition, Maria came out as gay, becoming the first openly LGBTQ+ Rose. A few years later, she entered the world of politics and was elected as a Fine Gael MEP for the Midlands-North-West constituency. At the time, she was the youngest Irish MEP. She was re-elected in the 2024 European Parliament election. Speaking about her Rose of Tralee win, Maria said she was ‘proud’ to be involved with the festival and took her role as an ambassador seriously. She was in a relationship with TV producer Shauna Keogh, but the pair split up in 2018. In May this year, Maria announced that she is pregnant with her first child, expecting her baby in October 2026. She conceived via solo IVF and fertility treatment. Rita Talty met Rose of Tralee host Dáithí Ó Sé and the pair struck up a friendship, communicating via Facebook at the time.  When Rita Talty flew to Ireland to represent New Jersey in the 2008 Rose of Tralee, she could never have imagined how her life would change. There, she met Rose of Tralee host Dáithí Ó Sé and the pair struck up a friendship, communicating via Facebook at the time. In 2010, while doing a show in the States for TG4, Dáithí contacted Rita and suggested meeting up. The pair spent time together in New York and the relationship blossomed from there. A year later, the pair got engaged in 2011 and tied the knot the following year. They share a son, named Mícheál Óg, who was born in 2014. Last year, the American woman launched a new business venture following ‘years of working behind the scenes’. Rita’s Virtual Agency is a virtual assistant service, where she offers admin, calendar scheduling, and social media management to small businesses, entrepreneurs and content creators. Clare and Ryan on their wedding day Long before clinical psychologist Dr Clare Kambamettu caught the eye of Ryan Tubridy when she appeared as a guest on his radio show, she had already wowed the judges at the Rose of Tralee, going on to lift the crown. It was 2010 and Leeds-born Clare, whose family had moved to Athy in Kildare at the age of eight, was representing London that year. Some years later, Clare was interviewed on camera as an advocate for radon testing, after finding that levels were high in her home. The interviewer happened to work with a production company called Earth Horizons, who made a series called Eco Eye. Clare, who has a BA in Psychology and History, a H. Dip. in Psychology from NUI Galway and a Master’s in Mental Health, specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy at King’s College London, got a call out of the blue and was asked if she’d be interested in presenting the show. She took up the reins as cohost of Eco Eye in early 2020. She has since credited the Rose of Tralee for causing the ‘butterfly effect’ of presenting Eco Eye and credits the show’s end for leading to her meeting her now husband Ryan Tubridy. The butterfly effect describes the idea that small things can have a big impact. In 2023, Clare appeared as a guest on The Ryan Tubridy Show on RTÉ Radio 1 as an expert guest to talk about Eco Eye coming to an end. The pair struck up a romance and in 2025, announced their engagement. They got married later that year in a stunning winter wedding at the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden, Galway.  Aoife (far right) starring in Legally Blonde with Sheridan Smith (centre) Musical theatre and West End star Aoife Mulholland from Salthill, took part in the competition in 2003, representing Galway. Three years later, she rose to prominence on the BBC reality competition How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? which saw award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber search for a new West End star. Aoife was eventually knocked out in the semi-final but went on to bag the role of Roxie Hart in the equally iconic show Chicago. She also ended up playing Maria Von Trapp on the West End after the winner of the BBC reality show, Connie Fisher, had to scale down her performances. Speaking about her time in the Rose of Tralee, Aoife said that it had helped her to prepare for what was to come. She also defended its outdated image. ‘For that week in Tralee, you are definitely an A-lister,’ she said. ‘The Rose of Tralee was a totally different experience to the twee image it had in the past. It was a celebration of women.’ In 2009, Aoife married Jason Molins, a former captain of the Irish national cricket team. They have three sons and live in south Dublin. Aoife is still performing in theatre, singing and writing. Her theatre credits include The Weir at the Gate Theatre in Dublin and The Ferryman at the Royal Court Theatre  Irish/Australian actress Genevieve O’Reilly competed in the Rose of Tralee in 1996, as the Adelaide Rose. Born in Dublin, she moved to Adelaide with her family when she was 10, eventually relocating to Sydney to attend the National Institute of Dramatic Art. Her theatre credits include The Weir at the Gate Theatre in Dublin and The Ferryman at the Royal Court Theatre and later, the Giegud Theatre in London’s West End. She went on to appear on the big screen in Matrix franchise sequels, The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions but is best-known for portraying Mon Mothma in the Star Wars franchise, beginning with Revenge of the Sith. She reprised the role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and for the Disney+ TV series Andor. On the small screen she has appeared in numerous dramas including Spooks, Banished and Waking the Dead for BBC One and was critically acclaimed for her portrayal of Sunday school teacher Hazel Buchanan in the ITV drama The Secret, which starred James Nesbitt as killer dentist Colin Howell. Genevieve lives in London with her chiropractor husband Luke Mulvihill and their two children. She can currently be seen starring in the six-part Australian period drama My Brilliant Career, which landed on Netflix this week.