The Big Apple rose of Tralee festival was held recently at the Hudson Theatre in Manhattan and the winner and Big Apple Rose of Tralee representative for 2011 turned out to be Caitlin McNeill from Brooklyn, a senior at St. Joseph's College. The festival also selected winning junior roses and also rosebuds in the youngest category. William Lee III won out in the Big Apple Escort competition and will accompany Caitlin McNeill to the regional selection stage of the International Rose of Tralee competition which will be held in Portlaoise, County Laois. McNeill, whose Irish family roots are in Kerry and Cork, is a well known competitive Irish dancer.
