Manorhamilton International Wild Rose official launch

Three of the eight 2023 Manorhamilton International Wild Rose contestants were present on Sunday afternoon in the W8's Osta Restaurant when the official launch of this year's event.

Among the three Wild Rose contestants in attendance were Manorhamilton Rose, Emma Fitzpatrick, Sligo Rose, Grace Flanagan and Mayo Rose, Carla Marlin.

Grace Ferguson (Sligo), Conor Maguire (Wild Rose Committee), Cara Martin (Mayo), Alison Twomey (Wild Rose Committee), Niamh Harney (2019 Sligo Wild Rose), Emma Fitzpatrick (Manorhamilton), Finbarr Twomey (Wild Rose Committee), Chloe McGovern (2019 Wild Rose) pictured at the launch of the Wild Rose Festival 2023 in Osta Restaurant, W8 Centre, Manorhamilton on Sunday, June 25. 

Speaking at the launch Festival Chairperson Finbarr Twomey said “back in 2019 we had a dream to bring the International Wild Rose Festival back to Manorhamilton. We had a very good week then as many people well remember. But unfortunately in the following year, 2020 COVID-19 got in the way.

“So this year we find ourselves starting up again from scratch, We got a new Festival Committee up and running and we are this far with the official launch with the 2023 International Manorhamilton Wild Rose Festival.

“We had a very successful Winter Festival before Christmas. The funds raised at that event have helped the Wild Rose Festival Committee to go ahead and run this Festival”.

Since the first Festival in 1970 it has ran every year for the next 27 years (1970-1997). The Festival was successfully revived in 2019 but COVID-19 prevented it taking place again until this year, 2023, which will be the 29th Wild Rose Festival since the event was first staged in 1970.