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\nWhen she first hosted the show, Thomas said she wanted to put the criticism directly to the contestants<\/p>\n
Rose of Tralee co-host Kathryn Thomas has hit back at critics who dismiss the festival as outdated, branding such comments as “boring” and “lazy”.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the festival’s launch, Thomas, who is gearing up to present the RT\u00c9 One show for a fourth year alongside veteran D\u00e1ith\u00ed \u00d3 S\u00e9, said she believes the women taking part are best placed to judge whether the event remains relevant.<\/p>\n
“If you watch this show, you can’t keep banging on about it when you see these women and what they represent,” she said.<\/p>\n
When she first hosted the programme, Thomas said she wanted to put the criticism directly to the contestants.<\/p>\n
“The first year I hosted it, I wanted to ask that question to the Roses on stage: ‘People say it’s the lovely girls competition, what do you say?'”<\/p>\n
She said the answers she received gave her a different perspective on why women continue to take part.<\/p>\n
“The answers I got were, \u2018Why wouldn’t I want a network of women all over the world that are really well connected that might be able to open doors for me and help my career?\u2019”<\/p>\n
“Why wouldn’t I want to travel for free for a year? Why wouldn’t I want to do it with a gang of women who are great craic?”<\/p>\n
“That doesn’t sound old fashioned to me.”<\/p>\n
\nWhen she first hosted the show, Thomas said she wanted to put the criticism directly to the contestants<\/p>\n
Thomas also pointed to the atmosphere surrounding the event, particularly during Rose week in Tralee.<\/p>\n
“D\u00e1ith\u00ed takes the mick out of me, there’s a bit of craic on stage, Tralee is mental for the week and these women have the time of their lives representing themselves brilliantly.”<\/p>\n
“I think it’s going to be a very fun show.”<\/p>\n
Thomas has served as co-host since 2023, but despite her experience presenting the programme, she said she still has “no idea” what it takes to become the winning Rose.<\/p>\n
“I never know. I would hate to be a judge,” she admitted.<\/p>\n
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\nKathryn Thomas and D\u00e1ith\u00ed \u00d3 S\u00e9 will return as co-hosts for next week’s Rose of Tralee on RT\u00c9 One and RT\u00c9 Player<\/p>\n
The presenter also clarified that she has no role in deciding the result, despite some viewers wondering whether she has any influence over who takes the title.<\/p>\n
“People wonder if I’ve anything to do with it, but no, I don’t.”<\/p>\n
Instead, Thomas sees her role as helping each contestant tell her own story.<\/p>\n
“I think what these women are doing is storytelling and that’s what we are there to facilitate.”<\/p>\n
She said she would not want to be placed in the position of deciding which contestant should take the title.<\/p>\n
“I don’t know what makes a winner and should never be put in that position because I love them all.”<\/p>\n
The Rose of Tralee airs on RT\u00c9 One and RT\u00c9 Player on Monday 17 August and Tuesday 18 August from 8pm.<\/p>\n
Read more: Rose of Tralee: Meet this year’s Roses<\/a><\/p>\n Dublin Rose: ‘The love and support have been way louder’<\/a><\/p>\n