Rose of Tralee - the best moments from night one

Golf, bubble wrapping, tattoos and a ballad that left The Dome stunned - here are our favourite moments from the first night of the Rose of Tralee on RTÉ One.

Spot me Dáithí!
Meath Rose Meghan Byrne really made the most of her time onstage. First she revealed that she had at one point wanted to be a nun. Then we discovered she calls her boyfriend - who was in the audience - "The OId Fart". And she wasn't done yet. Turns out Meghan's other half owns a gym and introduced to weightlifting. So 100kg was brought on and Meghan duly obliged. Dress was class too.

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Auditioning for the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Arizona Rose Kayla Gray called upon Dáithí in his role as guinea-pig-in-chief for her "very peculiar party piece". "Dáithí, I'm going to put you in a bubble," said the live wire scientist. "I feel like I am in one, but that's okay," he deadpanned. After wondering whether Dáithí's head would actually fit in the bubble blower she was holding (score!), Kayla then proceeded to help Dáithí auditioned for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It worked better the second time 'round. And she wasn't finished yet...

Tattoo You!
...Kayla then stepped up and commemorated her night as a Rose by getting a tattoo backstage in The Dome. The 27-year-old, who works in organ donation, seemed a tad concerned about whether she had made the right choice with her new inking (and we're not sure what Dáithí meant when he said it would wear off in a few years) but this will be a night she'll remember for a long time.

Dáithí fast-tracks application to have Dublin visitor pass revoked
And it was all going so well... Dublin Rose and Dublin Zoo veterinary nurse Laura Vines (talk about the perfect surname for a job!) was joined onstage by her show-stealing best pal Penny for some too-cute, high-fiving animal training. But Dáithí couldn't let the sweetness last. "Penny's after making a small bit of a boo-boo there," he said. Penny hadn't - but that didn't stop the Kerryman wiping the floor with a Dublin jersey. Don't order soup when you're allowed back up here in 25 years' time, Dáithí!

Revenge!
Ah karma! New York Rose Elena Evangelou later endeared herself to Dubs fans by getting one over on Dáithí - in style - as she taught him Greek! Five in a row!!!!!

I'd rather Mac
Longford Rose Marie Brady gave it maximum Stevie Nicks down in The Dome when she brought out her guitar to sing a very impressive version of Dreams. There were rumours she was going to do a Fleetwood Mac song (you're fired - Ed).

Tee for two
Winning our unofficial night one award for The Rose We Reckon Would Be the Best Craic, Laois Rose Sarah Bergin shook off her self-confessed nerves and was well able for the banter with Dáithí. The golf nut also challenged him to a game, complete with rickety knees sound effects. "The last time I went playing golf now I qualified for the Ploughing Championships," lamented the host. Sarah said her original plan was to get Dáithí "to lie down there and see how many teeth we could knock out but RTÉ wouldn't let me". "Believe me, RTÉ wanted another part of me there and not my face!" admitted Dáithí. Game on, and the man himself proved that form is temporary, class is permanent!

Kildare Rose stuns The Dome
They saved the best performance on Monday night until last, and there wasn't a dry eye in The Dome as Kildare Rose Emer Fogarty sang The Parting Glass in memory of her late father. She received rapturous applause at the end, and on the Festival's 60th anniversary gave it a moment to cherish forever more.

The show in The Dome continues on RTÉ One on Tuesday from 8:00pm. Watch it all on the RTÉ Player

Rose of Tralee - the best moments from night one

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