More than three-quarters of a million people watched Maria Walsh being crowned the new Rose of Tralee.
The shocked Philadelphia Rose was given the crown around 11.20pm last night – as a huge 760,300 watched.
While throughout the entire show, an average of 694,000 people were watching after the RTE Nine O’Clock News.
It’s up from 669,700 last year and 688,500 who were watching in 2012 as we rediscover our love of the annual event.
Crowning: Maria was shocked when told she’d won competition
And host Daithi O’Se said he was delighted with how successful his fifth year in charge was.
“This is my fifth year presenting the Rose of Tralee and I felt the atmosphere around Tralee town leading up to the show was electric,” he said.
“I’m delighted for this Year’s Rose Maria. Her wonderful and unique personality really shone through during the week and also on stage. She will be a great ambassador for the Rose of Tralee”.
Delighted: Daithi couldn’t believe how well competition went | VIPIRELAND.COM
RTE Rose of Tralee executive producer Michael Kealy added that the figures showed one-in-two people watching TV in Ireland saw the crowning.
He said: “A share of 50% for the second night means one-in-two people in Ireland watching television at that time tuned in to The Rose of Tralee.
“Ever the professional Daithi O Se’s energetic personality made the live event much more fun for the Roses!”
More than 10,000 people even tuned into the Red Room which was presented by Aidan Power on the RTE Player.
