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Three Galway men have made the grade after being selected to spend the week as Rose Escorts at the Rose of Tralee International Festival from 15–19th August. Darragh Moran from Claregalway, Sean Mulryan from Castlegar but based in Dublin, and Seamus Ó Fatharta from Beal An Daingean were among the group of 32 Irish lads who made it through the rigours of the Rose of Tralee Boot Camp for Escorts.

“The Rose Escorts spent 48 hours in West Kerry making black pudding in Annascaul, cleaning the vat in Dingle Distillery and swimming with the sharks at Dingle Oceanworld, not because the ladies love Milk Tray but because the lads prefer Roses” explained the Festival’s Communications Manager John Drummey.

“Nearly 200 men aged between 21 and 30 applied to become Escorts at this year’s Rose of Tralee International Festival and following a detailed interview process, the final 32 were selected to take part in a Boot Camp weekend in West Kerry to help them prepare for a busy week in Tralee” he added.

This year’s Boot Camp activities, supported by Kerry County Council and Udarás na Gaelteachta, were staged in Dingle where the lads had to surf, cycle, carry tyres, fly kites, play tag rugby and build sand castles in order to prove they will have the stamina to be a Rose Escort.

On Monday night, August 18th, one of the 32 Escorts will be announced as the Newbridge Silverware Escort of the Year for 2014 and he will walk away with a wonderful prize valued at €5,000. The reigning Escort of the Year, Johnny McGailey, said that his selection, “was nothing short of a great honour”.

“The opportunity to represent a fantastic group and to accompany our Rose of Tralee, Haley O’Sullivan, at numerous events has been a brilliant experience. I’ve travelled to Belarus, New York and countless reunions while also working closely with a fantastic Rose of Tralee Team who couldn’t have done any more for me. I’ve made memories and friendships that will be cherished forever,” he added.

Full details of the International Roses, Escorts and Festival events are available from www.roseoftralee.ie.