Check out fantastic photos taken by Magz Bray at the recent Dubai Irish Society Rose of Tralee Ball 2008 at The Westin. Emma Dwane, our Dubai Rose of Tralee 2008, read her own poem on the night.

What does the rose mean to you?

What does the rose mean to you?
Is it something red or a dream come true?
Does it grow through those sunny spring showers?
Or does it make you laugh for hours and hours?
If it has made you smile then I think you will see
Which rose I speak of, The Rose of Tralee.

Getting autographs from the roses at the races
Memorising their sashes and smiling faces
Listening to them sing or say a poem
Watching them parade from the Brandon to the dome
When I was small all I wanted to be
Was one of those roses at The Rose of Tralee

But here in this place called the UAE
Our rose adventure has been so special to me
For us eleven girls and I’m sure I speak for all
When I say that we’ve had such a ball
Such a time has been had for this rose of Dubai
I’ll share a few memories, girls try not to cry!

It all began on the fourth of May
In the Ritz us girls met to say hey
Unsure of what lay in store for us
We chatted and laughed without too much fuss
Then Tuesday came and we encountered our escorts
They were tall, charming, a combination of all sorts
In the heat of Barasti we played blind date
As Louise and Aileen decided our fate
Who likes cheese or who has a tattoo
Made us chat and guess who was who?

On Friday then we were in for a treat
Wined and dined in the Westin presidential suite
Interviews were held in suites A and B
As Father Ted judged some Lovely girls on TV
Asking questions with a combination of answers
Observing girls that are good kickers and salsa dancers
Some judges got to see a whole lot
But I won’t go in to that so dot dot dot.

Us roses then lunched and spoke of the morning
Voted for escorts, boys that’s your warning!
That evening back to The Westin we did go
High heels, dresses, all glam on show
Sushi and flowers and photos and chat
Escorts on call at the drop of a hat
Great craic and fun was had by all
And we weren’t even half way to this ball

There has been many other ventures in between
To tell the truth it’s been one unforgettable dream
Last Saturday I don’t know if you are aware
But on a flight over Dubai the roses did dare
Looking down on the palm from high up in the sky
Flying past the windows of Burj Dubai
What an amazing surprise it was for us
For that Aileen you deserve a massive buladh bós

So now not to keep you all night long
I’ll finish this tale before my voice is gone
Roses and escorts it’s been a blast
A dream event to the very last
So enjoy tonight to one and all
Make the most of it until the last call
And girls, to whoever the Dubai Rose may be
I wish you the very best of luck at The Rose of Tralee