"ONCE a Rose, always a Rose” — these were the passionate words of Rachael Blacklock, the outgoing 2013 winner of the Newcastle Rose of Tralee competition.
Although unlucky not to get through to the actual Tralee finals, she still declared the year as “the best experience of my life” before handing on the winner’s sash, and her best wishes, to the 2014 Newcastle Rose winner — Carmel Clarke, an administrator with Carmel College in Darlington, but with her roots firmly in Galway.
The presentation of the 2014 Newcastle International Rose of Tralee winner was the crowning highlight of a superb night of Irish culture, music and entertainment at Jury’s Inn, Newcastle-Gateshead Quays, on the banks of the River Tyne.
A packed programme included Irish dancing by Chris Hannon and the Hannon-Murphy Dance School, a musical set by The Alan Kelly Band, cameo interviews and party pieces from the six Newcastle Rose competitors, and the professional compering of Andy Kavanagh.
Pictures by Tommy McClements and Neil H Campbell
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