A 22-year-old theoretical physics graduate has been crowned this year's Rose of Tralee.
The Mayo Rose, Aoibhíonn Ní Shúilleabháin, took the prize at the 47th annual event last night.
The native Irish speaker from Carnacon had been the bookies' favourite to win.
Ní Shúilleabháin has won national awards for short-story and poetry and is a also a singer-songwriter.
Among her academic achievements are a student placement in 2004 at CERN (the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, awards at the International Mathematical Contest in Modelling, an Entrance Scholarship from UCD in 2001 and scholarships from Bord Na Gaeilge.
She plans to continue her post-graduate studies in bio-physics.
Visit RTÉ's Rose of Tralee website.
