It was all sunshine and stilettos at the official Rose of Tralee launch as the 65 hopefuls posed alongside returning host Dáithí Ó Sé.
For the first time ever all 65 Roses who made it through the regional finals will travel to Tralee for the qualifying selections, which will take place this Wednesday and Thursday. However, only 32 will make the live TV shows.
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, Daithi says that while his job is extra hard this year, it's all in the name of fun.
"I think at the moment the Roses are just getting to know each other because the group is so big this year. The semi-final process, if you like to call it that, would usually happen in Portlaoise, during a whittle weekend over three nights.
"This time everyone is heading down to Tralee, which makes our jobs a little bit harder, because usually at this stage we'd be putting the two TV shows together.
"As of now, we don't know who is going to be on the TV shows. They are going on stage on Wednesday and Thursday and hopefully coming towards the weekend we'll find out who is going to be on TV. But listen, it's all great fun," he added.
The race is on! @daithi_ose talks about the #roseoftralee shake-up and how 65 with quickly become 32.https://t.co/4ko2dy9dwn
— RTÉ Entertainment (@RTE_Ents) August 16, 2016
With just 24 hours until the extended festival gets underway Dáithí and the 2016 Roses took time out from their hectic schedules to attend the launch before they hit the road for Tralee.
While all eyes will be on next week's live shows for the first time RTÉ Entertainment is giving you a chance to get to know the Roses a little bit better before the festival kicks off.
We spoke to all 65 Roses and between now and their TV debut on Monday and Tuesday you will be able to click on each individual Rose to learn more about them through a short 30 second video clip.
To check out the profiles of this year's Roses click here.
This year coverage of the Rose of Tralee is to be extended to include a special one-hour documentary being screened before the first of the live shows.
Presented by Sinead Kennedy, Road to the Dome will follow the 65 Roses from their arrival in Dublin all the way to Tralee. From the glamour of the Rose Ball, to the drama of the qualifier nights, Sinead will have unlimited access to life on the Rose tour.
Road to the Dome will be broadcast at 6.30pm on Monday August 22 on RTÉ One.
The live shows, presented by Daithí Ó Sé, will then take place as normal over the following two evenings August 22 and 23 from the Festival Dome on RTÉ One at 8pm.
