Every girl dreams of becoming a princess for a day. For Aileen McCarthy, IFA Hotels & Resorts’ Client Assets Handover Manager, that dream became a reality when she was crowned 'The Rose of Dubai’, chosen to represent the Emirate in the hugely popular Rose of Tralee competition.

Celebrating 48 years, the Rose of Tralee International Festival is Ireland’s premier popular festival. The festival celebrates the shared heritage of Irish people at home and abroad, and the Rose of Tralee brand is firmly established in Irish communities both on the island of Ireland and overseas. This annual event has strong family values and celebrates the ever-changing role of women in society.

Incorporating 33 centres from the island of Ireland and 25 overseas centres from locations such as North America, Great Britain, Europe, Dubai, Australia and New Zealand, the festival continues to grow and new overseas centres are continuously being developed.

To qualify for the Rose of Tralee, regional heats take place across the world from Boston to Queensland, and Dubai is no different. On the 18th May the Dubai Irish Society, which was founded in 1971 (one of the oldest societies in the UAE), hosted ‘The 14th Annual Rose Ball’. Under the watchful eyes of organisers Margaret Hayes, Maria Hughes and Karen O'Donnell, Aileen was chosen to represent Dubai and the UAE in Ireland in August this past summer. Aileen wowed Tralee and brought a little bit of the glamour and panache of Dubai to the Emerald Isle.

Aileen commented: “This experience has been absolutely brilliant. The atmosphere both here and in Ireland was so positive and it is wonderful to be involved in something that promotes a positive image for Irish women around the world.”