The 64th Rose of Tralee festival has officially kicked off.
The spotlight was on Monaghan Rose, Anne-Marie McArdle, and Cavan's Grace Farrelly, as they donned their sashes and paraded around Tralee yesterday evening.
Representing Monaghan is 26-year-old Anne-Marie McArdle from Carrickmacross.
She graduated with a Master of Education in Primary School Teaching from Hibernia College, and now works in an all-girls primary school in Dublin.
20-year-old Grace Farrelly will be wearing the Cavan sash and is the youngest Rose this year.
She is currently studying Sociology and English in Maynooth University and hopes to become a secondary school teacher.
Among the international Roses competing this year are Megan Cahill from Chicago and Ciara O'Sullivan from Dubai.
Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas will interview the final 32 Roses live from the festival dome in Tralee at 8 pm on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th August.
