Cloghan man to be escort at 2025 Rose of Tralee
Aaron Tourish from Cloghan is one of the 32 Rose Escorts for the 2025 event and has just completed a bootcamp with his fellow escorts
A young Donegal man is looking forward to his dream role as a Rose Escort for this year’s Rose of Tralee.
Aaron Tourish is one of the 32 Rose Escorts for the 2025 event and has just completed a bootcamp with his fellow escorts.
The 22-year-old from Cloghan has dreamed of being a Rose Escort for a long time, but decided to apply earlier this year.
After making it onto the shortlist, he attended for an interview in Tullamore last month before getting the call to confirm his selection as one of the Rose Escorts.
“It was an unbelievable feeling,” Tourish tells Donegal Live. “We then attended bootcamp down in Tralee and Dingle where I got to meet the other 31 Rose Escorts and the team behind it all.
“It was important to build team work and team bonding while also having mighty craic.
“It has been an exciting process since applying, getting shortlisted, being interviewed and getting successfully selected. It really is a privilege and true honour to get accepted into this.
“I have always thought that it would be an experience of a lifetime getting involved in this festival and since being at bootcamp last week I feel that experience is just getting started.”
A former pupil of Dooish National School and St Columba’s College, he took part in a series of events at bootcamp, including hiking, karaoke and beach exercises.
A son of Damien and Aisling Tourish, the family are used to life in the fast lane - dad Damien is a regular competitor at rallies across the country.
Aaron remains indebted to his valued sponsors - D Tourish Groundworks & Construction Ltd; Toolforce.ie; Sonny McSwines/ McCaffertys Bar Group; Mantis Cranes and Pro-fitness - who have supported his “crazy” journey.
From now until August will be a hectic time for the Donegal man as he prepares for “anything the organisers might need me for between now and the festival”.
He has yet to learn which Rose he will be paired with.
He says: “What I am most looking forward to in the role of being a Rose Escort is of course getting to meet all the Roses and Escorts and to feel the real atmosphere of being involved in the Rose of Tralee Festival.
“Getting the job of a Rose Escort is a real responsibility. At the end of the day it’s looking out for the Roses, keeping them calm, keep them on their schedule and ensure they have the best time of their life.
“I’m sure every single Rose will bring something special and unique to the festival.”
The 2025 Rose of Tralee will take place from August 15-19 with the selection nights, hosted by Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas, on August 18 and 19.