Local Roses fail to make Tralee festival

The Kilkenny and Carlow roses have not made the International Rose of Tralee festival in August.

56 roses from around the world competed over the weekend in Portlaoise for the 23 available places in the famous two day event.

Kilkenny rose Claire Walsh and Carlow rose Aisling Keohane were hoping to make the shortlist.

There will be some local interest however.

Western Canada rose Casandra Sampson has Kilkenny ancestry through the Ryan family which emigrated in the late 1800s.