Sinead Kennedy has revealed that she was “disappointed”, after Rose of Tralee contestants slammed RTÉ for unfair treatment during filming.
The presenter, who fronted RTÉ’s Road to the Dome documentary, has defended the station after Down Rose Fainche McCormack claimed Roses were “treated like animals in the circus”.
The station came under fire for featuring a ‘Rose Cull’, where they cut 65 Roses down to 32 – and informed them of the decision on camera, which Fainche described as being “held in a room against our will”.
Slammed: RTÉ came under fire after Roses complained that they were treated like ‘circus animals’ | BRIAN MCEVOY
After the accusations, RTÉ released a statement that insisted that they regret upsetting any of the contestants, and that they would take the feedback on board for next year’s festival.
Documentary host Sinead has now revealed that while she wasn’t present during the ‘Rose Cull’, she was disappointed that some of the girls were left upset – but other than that, she was happy with how the programme turned out.
“I wasn’t in the room when they were told they hadn’t got through. But I was disappointed when I heard that they were upset. I had spent a lot of time with the Roses and got on very well with them,” she told the Irish Independent.
“It was a very positive programme about the Rose of Tralee. I think it showed how much work goes into the festival.”
“I was happy with it. I have had some great feedback. Hearing you hadn’t made it through is always going to be upsetting,” she added.
