BY NUALA MCALOON

Well by now we will all know who has been crowned the 2007 Rose of Tralee.

But, for Aisling Reihill from Donagh, the first girl to represent the county at the International Festival in Kerry, whatever the outcome, the event was never there for the winning, but rather for the participating and the enjoying.

Speaking to the 'Herald' from Tralee yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, fresh from her stage interview with Ray D'Arcy live on RTE 1 on Monday night, Aisling said she was living an experience of a lifetime.

"It has just been brilliant. It was such a buzz coming onto the stage but I was nervous and Ray could probably hear my heart beating. But it was great and after you come off, it's just such an adrenaline rush and it was great to see a load of support from home."

Since being crowned 'Fermanagh Rose' in May, it has been a rollercoaster ride for the 20-year-old physiotherapy student who has acted as an ambassador for the county throughout.

In the last week alone, she has met several new friends and created lifelong memories as she did the 'Rose Tour' with 30 girls from across the world and their escorts.

Aisling was escorted throughout the week by Colm O'Leary from Dublin.

"All the escorts are lovely, they do everything for you. If you need anything picked up out of a shop or a chemist, they will do it. They top up your drinks, they are really good. It's unbelievable, you would never get treated like this again.

"The girls are all good craic and there has been no mention of a competition. We have all been running in and out of each others' rooms and really enjoying ourselves."

While the past week has proved to be a hectic one with a jam-packed programme of events, it is one Aisling says she will never forget.

"It has just been mad, but it has been brilliant. We have done lots of things. We went to the zoo and the Guinness Brewery. We had a helicopter ride, we went to Bunratty Castle and there have been civic receptions for us as well."

And the highlight?

"It would probably be the Saturday night's parade in Tralee. We were all put in different floats and there were bands and dancers between each float. Thousands of people lined the streets and it went on for an hour and a half as we headed towards the town centre. Everybody was put up on the stage then and the night finished with fireworks."

Aisling said all her family, with the exception of her sister Sinead who got married last week and was currently on honeymoon, had made the Festival. And as for the travelling Donagh crowd, she said: 'you could definitely hear them before you saw them'.

With the Festival drawing to a close last night, Aisling said she planned to spend the remainder of the week in Kerry before returning home to Fermanagh at the weekend.