Marty Whelan is to present this year's Rose of Tralee. The show will be televised live from the Dome in Tralee on Tuesday and Wednesday, August 26th and 27th.
He is currently presenting Fame and Fortune, the game show from the National Lottery, and has regularly cohosted the daytime programme 12-2-1 with Ciana Campbell.
The Rose of Tralee was presented since it was first televised by Gay Byrne. It was subsequently presented by Derek Davis. Gay Byrne is one of the judges of the competition again this year.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will open this year's Festival of Kerry, of which the Rose of Tralee is part, on Saturday, August 23rd.
He was delighted, he said, to be associated with one of Ireland's premier tourist events.
The Irish contenders for the 1997 title are the Cork Rose, Sinead Curtin; Dublin Rose, Lisa McGowan; Galway Rose, Colette Ansbro; Kerry Rose, Hazel Griffin: Limerick Rose, Audrey Dooley; Ulster Rose, Lucia Cleary; and Waterford Rose, Ruth O'Connor.