A peak of nearly one million viewers tuned in to RTÉ One last night to see Tara Talbot, the 27-year-old Queensland Rose, crowned as the 53rd Rose of Tralee.
It is reported that an average of 824,000 viewers watched the final show after RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News. The share of 54.3% was the highest in four years.
Tara Talbot, a secondary school teacher from the Australian State of Queensland, is celebrating this morning being crowned the 2011 International Rose of Tralee.
Her name was announced by Dáithí Ó Sé live last night on RTÉ One TV in front of a massive viewing audience at home and in the Festival Dome.
She said "I am so honoured to have been chosen as the Rose of Tralee and to represent the 31 girls who were with me in Tralee for the next year. It really hasn't sunk in yet but I'm looking forward to a new life experience."
Joining her on the night in Tralee were her Mum, Carmencita who is originally from the Philippines and her Auntie Cathy who is from Dublin. Tara's Dad Ronnie from Dublin was unable to travel from Australia to support her but he watched the event online.
Tara was born in Dublin and moved to Australia when she was five-years-old, returning to live between Dublin and Galway for three years in 2006.
