Remembered this from the Edmunds catalogs of the 80s so when I was offered a maiden this year I had to say yes. My experience echoes these older comments. The color is deep pink, the plant inherited crazy thorns from its parent Anne Letts, and there is absolutely zero fragrance. None. No fragrance at all. It’s absolutely an exhibition type, my maiden broke dormancy in December (I’m in 9b/10a) and gave a big, beautiful bloom on a nice sized stem by mid-February. I have had one other blossom since then. It’s late August. As I have very limited space it’s unlikely I will retain this variety. The sparse foliage I can deal with. The sparse blooms I cannot. And I’m really let down by there being no fragrance.

This Dublin rose has been a bit of a conundrum for me. I have had it for three full years now starting as a bareroot.
I wasn't too sure I would keep it around after the first two years, but in it's third year it has proven itself to be a pretty darn good rose after all. First off, it seemed a bit sluggish breaking dormancy until this year. This year it was one of the first to break and then it just took off growing like a week and added several early basal breaks. Thus, many more rose blooms this year. The color of the blooms are more of a flat dark pink with a darker edge this is rather attractive. They say it is fragrant, however detect none on my blooms. The form of the bloom and substance are generally very good. The bush itself is not the prettiest, though that aspect of the rose has probably improved the most in its' third year. Prior to this year the foliage was ver sparse looking and a rather unattractive dark flat green color for me. This year the foliage is thicker and more abundant from the ground all the way to the top and the thickness of the petals is quite good. This is one of the thorniest roses I have so you have to be careful working around it or you'll pay the price. I am hoping this past year wasn't a quirk and this rose continues to thrive and produce like it did this past year.
John

I grew this rose in Maryland and was Very disappointed with the scent. What scent?!!! It had absoutely NONE, as a 20" pot plant on my sunny outdoor terrace. I called Edmunds and they said they're sorry to hear that but it has wonderful scent growing in Oregon, oh well. I agree that the flowers are deep pink-red rather than red. On the upside, it has perfect pointy hybrid tea form and the longest lasting flowers I have Ever seen on a rose, it hangs on for 2+ WEEKS on the bush until it almost turns into a dried flower! It's not that attractive a bush however, kind of lanky and have to stake it cause the flowers are so top heavy will fall over especially in rain, and slow to repeat cause the flowers are so full. I spray weekly to every other week as needed and it never gave me any problems. It may be acceptable if you want that perfect bloom for exhibiting, but I personally ditched it.

I have found this to be more pink than red by any means. It really hasn't lived up to my expectations exhibition wise, but still makes a nice garden plant as it does put out quite a few larger blooms.