Miss Guernsey Natalie Thoumine has an Irish grandfather but is two days too young to be this year’s Rose of Tralee. (0637553)

THE Guernsey Irish Association has launched its search for a rose.

For the first time, Guernsey has been accepted as a centre for the Rose of Tralee, a pageant held in Ireland for women across the globe with Irish heritage.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the festival and Frank O’Neill of the association is hoping to put forward a girl from Guernsey, Alderney or Jersey for the competition in August.

‘We would like to have a mix of eight to 10 girls rather than 20 or 30 as it makes the selection process much easier,’ said Mr O’Neill.

‘We don’t want to have to put the girls through the elimination process. We want all of them to feel as special. The fact that they have taken the time to enter is important and it’s crucial they’re made to feel special.’

The chosen girl will be an ambassador for the Channel Islands and will be a modern representation of what an Irish woman is.