Photo was taken at Tooreenbawn, Millstreet, Co.Cork (Irl)

The Rose of Tralee is held in Tralee, Co.Kerry each year and has evolved into much more than a simple beauty pageant. From its humble beginnings in 1959, the Rose Of Tralee has emerged as one of the most important events in the Irish social calendar. The five day festival attracts some 200,000 visitors from all over Ireland and the world. And traditionally when the Rose of Tralee is on, the countdown to back to school is also on!! The 2011 Rose Of Tralee winner will be announced later on tonight.

Thought on Tuesday – August – 23/08/2011

‘If only we could teach ourselves to live in the moment. We are always thinking about what we have to do next or what we forgot to do or what we wished we had done. Our minds are so fixed on things on our “to do” list that we miss the opportunity to live in the present.’ ~Anne Bryan Smollin

When the Rose of Tralee is on we know that school is just around the corner after the summer break. The pace is always relaxed and easy during the summer months. Even if the weather wasn’t great this summer we certainly got the chance to allow ourselves to live in the moment. We have enjoyed summer walks, sunshine when it did shine!, beautiful sunsets, gardens full of colour and watching swallows and wildlife maximise the summer months. We have appreciated the freedom of being outdoors and how important it is to get a break from constant television. We have allowed ourselves to slow down, we have given ourselves time to unwind and we have done things we normally might not do. It is often during these times that we feel close and connected to God. But after any holiday or summer break we drift quickly back into what we must do next, what we forgot to do and what we wished we had done. We forget about living in the moment where life bubbles and where life really matters. In the meantime let’s make the most of today and the eight days that are left in August!