Patrick, an accountant
from Manorcunningham and Letterkenny's Martin who
works as a legal researcher at UCD, made the grade
after beating off the competition from some 200
applicants. They also had to survive the rigours of
a festival escort boot camp which included making
black pudding; cleaning a distillery vat and
swimming with sharks in Kerry.
Festival communications manager, John Drummey, said:
"Nearly 200 men aged between 21 and 30 applied to
become escorts at this year’s (festival) and
following a detailed interview process, the final 32
were selected to take part in a boot camp weekend in
west Kerry to help them prepare for a busy week in
Tralee.”
The men will also compete in the Newbridge
Silverware-sponsored Escort of the Year competition
which current title holder, Jonny McGailey,
describes as "a great honour".
The 32 escorts won't discover which rose they will
be escorting until they arrive in Tralee on August
15. The festival runs from August 15-19. |