For the first time since 2014, a Laois Rose made it to the Dome in Tralee – with Grainne Hogan from Camross representing the county tonight, on the first night of the televised show.
In total 57 girls qualified for the International Rose of Tralee with Grainne one of the lucky 32 girls to make it on stage.
The 14th Rose of the night she was interviewed on stage by host Daithi O Se. She was supported in Tralee by her family and friends.
Coming across very relaxed she told Daithi that she never thought a farmer could make it to the Rose of Tralee and joked that she was one of just three girls in a class of 103 in Gurteen Agricultural College.
Wearing a long, elegant, royal blue dress with an embellished belt, she walked on to the stage to strains of Lovely Laois and her party piece was showing Daithi how to milk a cow (a fake one) on stage.
Other Roses on the first night included girls from Carlow, Kerry, Kildare, Westmeath, Dublin, Kilkenny, New Zealand, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, San Francisco and New York
The winner will be announced on Tuesday night.
SEE ALSO – In Pictures: 52 great photos from the Laois Rose selection night
