Closing date approaching for International Wild Rose Festival

Would you or a friend like to be part of the best small festival around this summer? Read on and find out more about Manorhamilton’s International Wild Rose Festival and how you can represent your county or even more specifically, the towns of Manorhamilton or Dromahair!

Closing date for applications for the International Wild Rose Festival is Thursday, June 1

It’s amazing to think that an old-fashioned romantic novel from 1883 is still inspiring festivals and fun almost 140 years after its publication. Indeed, the International Wild Rose Festival, which is celebrated in Manorhamilton each summer, is located in the region celebrated in Patrick G. Smyth’s novel, The Wild Rose of Lough Gill which tells the tale of its heroine Kaitlín Ní Chuimin as she navigates a life full of adventure, heartache and romance, in the North West of Ireland and beyond.

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The Festival was established in 1970, in a time when the region was suffering depopulation due to mass emigration.

The draw of the big city or overseas to the UK or USA was evident in every town and village.
Festivals like this presented reasons for the diaspora to return home, bringing life back to the region, and provided a much-needed boost to the local economy and morale.

Luckily, over the decades since then, the Northwest of the country has developed at a pace, with an influx of new blood, new ‘locals’ if you will, returned emigrants or their families, and Leitrim is now a great place to live; a beautiful place to live, in close proximity to thriving and bustling centres; jobs and opportunities.

After a short break, the festival Committee decided to bring back the International Wild Rose Festival in 2017 and apart from the hiatus during the time of Covid, the festival has been a welcome date on the calendar of events in the town of Manorhamilton.

Promising to be a week of fun for all, scheduled events include Mike Denver at The Bee Park on Friday 14th of July, with Jim Devine in the same venue 2 nights later, Sunday 16th. Of course, the high-light of the festival will be the Wild Rose contest – a fun event, where 12 women representing the 12 important locations in the life of our heroine, compete for the title of International Wild Rose 2023.

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Not your ‘Lovely Girl’ competition made famous by certain Fr. Ted Crilly and his cohorts - this contest is right up to date. Gone are the rules and regulations of old. Instead, here we have a gathering of women, married, single, mothers or not, strong and independent, entrepreneurs, artists, business-women, students, all coming together to celebrate our community, our unique location and them selves.

The Crowning of the International Wild Rose will take place on the evening of Thursday 20th July, when Leitrim’s own Katherine Lynch will put the Roses through their paces – that promises to be a night fun and surprises!

If you or anyone you know might be interested in getting involved, here’s the criteria:
You will be 18 years by January first 2023, and will not have reached your 30th birthday on or prior to September 1st 2023. You can be married or single; have children or not and identify as female. All other information can be accessed by calling 086 262 8221.

Areas up for representation are Manorhamilton, Dromahair, Leitrim, Sligo, Donegal, Galway, Fermanagh, Cork, Wexford, Dublin, London, Madrid. Each participant will represent one of the places where young Kaitín Ní Chuimin travelled to. But if you are from somewhere else, that’s ok too! Other areas will also be considered.

You can request an entry form from or get some more detailed information by contacting wildrosefestivalmanorhamilton@gmail.com And don’t forget, the closing date for all applications is 1st of June.

If you or a pal near you are interested in taking part in the International Wild Rose Festival and being part of a fun week and a bit of craic, why not get in touch?

The International Wild Rose Committee looks forward to hearing from you and to seeing you in Manorhamilton this summer.