LAST YEAR, THERE was consternation when it was announced that the Rose of Tralee had banned contestants from reciting poems at the event.
At the time, festival organisers attributed the ban to time constraints with festival spokesman John Drummey stating that it was slowing down the momentum of the show.
We’ll see how it works out. While poetry is art and an important part of all culture, we felt it was slowing down the flow of the show.
The ban put a stop to poems about Irish heritage or about the wonderful experience that is the Rose of Tralee – a staple of the show, we’re sure you’ll agree.
This afternoon, DailyEdge.ie contacted the Rose of Tralee to see if the ban was still in place and they responded with… a poem.
“Good to hear from you,” the e-mail began.
There once was a time in the Dome/When Roses would recite the odd poem/Then times, they did change/Other things, now the rage/So we’ve asked them to leave poems at home.
“The ban still stands.”
A+. (Even if it means we won’t be hearing any lovely poetry this year.)
