Sixteen of Laois’s most talented ladies took to the stage on April 8 2010 to become the Laois Rose for 2010.
But only one could take the coveted title and that honour was bestowed upon Rathdowney native and Portlaoise teacher Bernadette Ryan.
The talent displayed that Thursday night at a packed Portlaoise heritage Hotel now Midlands Park Hotel was as ever varied and included hip hop dancing, singing, Irish dancing, poems and guitars as each girl tried to impress the judges.
The judging panel consisted of Colette Murray, tommy Butler and 2004 Rose of Tralee, Orla O’Shea.
Kildare native and Scoil Bhríde, Knockmay teacher Andrew Monaghan also beat off stiff competition from 11 other escorts as he was picked to go through to the International festival.
All proceeds on the night went to Voluntary Service Overseas.
Alf Harvey was there on the fabulous night and he took some great pictures.
Check them out below:
Bernadette Ryan, Laois Rose for 2010 at the selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Co-ordinator Sharon Preston with Laois Rose 2010 Bernadette Ryan at the selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Niall Holmes and Marie Fennell at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Claire Marie McGrath at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Laois Rose 2008 Stephanie Farrell and Laois Rose 2009 Edel Gilligan at the 2010 Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Contestant Tara Lynch makes up John White VSo at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Miriam Keane at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Emer Fitzgerald changed in record time and performed a dance number at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Emer Fitzgerald changed in record time and performed a dance number at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Mairead O’Connor, Laois Rose 2009 Edel Gilligan and Emma Scully at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Laois Rose 2009 with her parents Padraic and Alacoque at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Michelle Brennan and Maebh Cantwell at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Aileen Fitzgerald and Suzanne Doran at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Emma Butler, Sorcha O’Donovan, Martina Gorman and April O’Halloran at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Escort Declan Dunne poses for the camera with Karla Jordan and Claire Dooley at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Ciara Delaney, Aoife Hosey and Nimh Hosey at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Sandra Farrell and Melissa Donagher at front with Red Cody, Eleanor Ryan, çine Dempsey and Paul Ryan at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Rita, Abi, Maryse, Ciara and Frank Fitzpatrick at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Gillian Tierney at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Gillian Tierney at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Claire Stewart at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporters at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Emer Fitzgerald at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Gillian Tieney at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporting Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporters at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy interviews Steven Miller at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy interviews Simon Norton at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.
Waiting their turn at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. From left: Gillian Tierney, Sarah Costello, Bronagh Carroll and to be selected later in the night Laois Rose Bernadette Ryan and selected escort Andrew Monaghan. Picture: Alf Harvey.Niamh Kelly stepping it out on stage at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Mary Kenny reads her poem at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Emily Cummins singing at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporters at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.MC Brendan Hennessy was put through his paces by fitness instructor Rachel Fawsitt at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel late Friday Night. Picture: Alf Harvey. www.alfharvey.comEscort Andrew Monaghan is congratulated by co-ordinator Sharon Preston at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Supporters at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.The final line up before the announcement at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Waiting for results at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Brendan Hennessy and Laois Rose 2009 Edel Gilligan at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Waiting for the announcement at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Rose of Tralee 2009 Charmaine Kenny at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.About to make the announcement at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Bernadette Ryan is announced as Laois Rose 2010 at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Laois Rose 2010 Bernadette Ryan with friends at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.Miriam Keane and family at the Laois Rose selection night in the Portlaoise Heritage Hotel. Picture: Alf Harvey.
