Every August, Ireland collectively gathers around the TV for one of the most delightfully awkward spectacles of the year: the Rose of Tralee. It’s not quite a beauty pageant, not quite a talent show, and not quite a parish raffle—yet somehow, it’s all three. The Dome fills with Roses from around the world, their Escorts, and Daithí Ó Sé trying to steer the ship without blushing himself off stage.
If you’ve ever watched it sober, you’ll know: it’s a marathon. That’s where the drinking game comes in. The 2025 Rose of Tralee Drinking Game is designed to get you through two nights of poems, awkward dancing, and “my mammy back home is watching!” moments with your sanity intact—or at least with enough cider to dull the cringe.
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What is the Rose of Tralee Festival 2025?
For the uninitiated, the Rose of Tralee is an annual Irish festival where young women of Irish descent from around the globe compete for the title of “Rose.” Each Rose represents a county or Irish community abroad, supported by her dapper but usually awkward Escort. Daithí Ó Sé, the ever-smiling Kerryman, hosts the show live from the Dome in Tralee.
The official 2025 line-up features Roses from across Ireland, the UK, North America, Australia, and beyond. Expect a mix of accents, heartwarming backstories, charity work, and at least three questionable talents.
2025 Rose of Tralee Drinking Game Rules
Classic Rose of Tralee Clichés
- Drink if a Rose is a nurse, midwife, or works in healthcare.
- Two sips if she’s a teacher—and three if she greets her class live on TV.
- Sip if her backstory includes charity work.
- Gulp if she drops a line about volunteering in Africa.
Daithí Ó Sé Shenanigans
- Shot if Daithí suddenly switches to Irish for no reason.
- Sip if he mentions “The Dome” as if it’s the Eighth Wonder of the World.
- Gulp if he flirts with a mammy.
- Finish your drink if he accidentally flirts with someone’s boyfriend instead.
Talent Show Fails and Surprises
- Sip if a Rose reads her own poem.
- Two sips if it’s about emigration.
- Gulp if she sings out of tune.
- Finish your drink if Riverdance makes an appearance.
2025 Roses Special Rules
(Based on the official 2025 Rose list)
- Sip every time a Rose shouts out her county or city.
- Gulp if a Rose shares her emigration journey.
- Two sips if her Escort gets friendzoned on live television.
- Bonus rule: If a Rose mentions she’s engaged or already married, everyone must stand and toast.
Rose Escorts Drinking Game Rules 2025
- Sip if an Escort winks at the camera.
- Two sips if he tries to crack a joke and it dies on stage.
- Gulp if an Escort’s name gets mispronounced by Daithí.
- Finish your drink if an Escort looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Rose of Tralee Bingo Card 2025 (Alternative to Drinking Game)
Maybe you want to join in on the craic without waking up on the kitchen floor beside a half-eaten pack of Tayto. That’s where the Rose of Tralee Bingo Card comes in. It’s the perfect alternative to the drinking game: same chaos, less liver damage.
Here’s how it works: print out a simple bingo grid (or draw one on the back of an envelope after your third pint—your call). Fill the boxes with predictable Rose of Tralee clichés, then mark them off as they happen live on stage. Whoever gets a full line first can shout “DOME!” at the TV and claim bragging rights.
Sample Bingo Squares for 2025:
- Daithí says “The Dome” like he’s announcing the Vatican.
- A Rose greets her mammy, granny, or school class.
- Someone performs a tin whistle solo.
- A poem about emigration gets read aloud.
- A Rose declares “Ireland will always be home.”
- An Escort looks like he’s in physical pain from smiling.
- Awkward on-stage hug that lasts two seconds too long.
- Daithí flirts with someone’s mother.
- A Rose mentions her county winning the All-Ireland.
- An audience member waves a giant county flag like it’s the World Cup.
How to Play Rose of Tralee Bingo Card Game:
- Instead of drinking, you can award prizes—chocolate bars, crisps, or the last slice of garlic bread.
- For extra spice, add a “wild card” square like: “Something goes viral on Twitter before the show ends.”
- If you really want chaos, play a hybrid version: when you hit bingo, everyone else has to take a drink.
The beauty of the bingo card is that it works for everyone—grannies, designated drivers, and people who just want a laugh without testing their alcohol tolerance. It also doubles as proof that the Rose of Tralee really is the same show every single year… and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
More Irish Drinking Games to Keep the Craic Going
If you’ve somehow survived the Rose of Tralee drinking game without ending up horizontal on the couch, fair play. But the night doesn’t have to end there—Ireland is blessed with a whole arsenal of drinking games that will keep the laughs flowing long after Daithí has hung up his suit.
Irish Poker Drinking Game
Forget Vegas—Irish Poker is the ultimate card-based drinking challenge. It’s simple, chaotic, and dangerously deceptive. Players try to predict card values, and every wrong guess means another sip (or worse). By round four, you’ll be questioning your decision-making skills and your ability to shuffle. Full rules here if you’re brave enough: Irish Poker Drinking Game.
Rattlin’ Bog Drinking Game
If you thought the Rose of Tralee songs were catchy, wait until you dive into this one. The “Rattlin’ Bog” is a traditional Irish folk song that gets faster and faster each verse—and so does the drinking. Every time a new line is added, you drink. Every time you mess up the lyrics, you drink. By the end, you’ll either be fluent in folk music or flat on the floor. Check out the full instructions here: Rattlin’ Bog Drinking Game.
Leprechaun Drinking Game
This one’s pure mischief. Appoint a Leprechaun at the start of the night—they get to make up rules on the fly, and anyone who forgets to follow them drinks. Want everyone to talk in limericks? Done. Ban the word “cheers”? Cruel, but fair. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and very Irish. Rulebook (or lack thereof) lives here: Leprechaun Drinking Game.
These games are the perfect encore to your Rose of Tralee watch-party, or a standalone excuse for a messy night with friends. Just remember: the only thing more dangerous than Daithí Ó Sé flirting with a mammy is underestimating an Irish drinking game.
Funniest Rose of Tralee Moments from Past Years
The Rose of Tralee has given us some truly iconic television. Remember the ill-fated onstage proposal? The interpretive dance that left viewers speechless for all the wrong reasons? Or the Roses reading tragic poems about leaving Ireland while Daithí shuffled uncomfortably beside them?
Reddit threads are packed with survivors of the drinking game who recall collapsing halfway through the first night, while Twitter/X erupts every year with memes faster than Daithí can say “Go raibh maith agat.”
How to Watch the Rose of Tralee 2025
The 2025 Rose of Tralee airs live on RTÉ in Ireland and will be available via RTÉ Player for those abroad. The festival typically spans two nights in late August, with the winner crowned on the second evening.
Safety Disclaimer – Drink Responsibly
We joke, but seriously: pace yourself. Water is your friend. Swap pints for tea if you must. The Roses might survive two nights in the Dome, but your liver doesn’t have to.
Raise Your Glass to the Rose of Tralee 2025
The Rose of Tralee is the kind of show that’s both cringe-inducing and heartwarming. Whether you’re playing the full drinking game, trying the bingo version, or just chuckling along with Twitter, it’s best enjoyed with friends and a sense of humor.
So grab your glass, stock up on Tayto, and get ready: the Dome awaits.