Irishman wins Australian Idol

The Government today congratulated the Irish singer who has just been crowned Australian Idol.

Pharmacist Damien Leith, 30, from Co Kildare won most public votes in the popular Network Ten reality TV show in Sydney last night.

Arts Minster John O'Donoghue said today,

"I want to heartily congratulate Damien on his success on behalf of the Irish people and wish him well in his music career."

Leith, who lives in Sydney with his wife Eileen and son Jarvis, competed against Australian teenager Jessica Mauboy in the final in the Sydney Opera House.

His parents and brother Paul flew from Ireland to support him in the competition.

The singer chose some songs by Irish artists on his way to the title: The Blower's Daughter by Damien Rice and With or Without You by U2.

He sang the Nessun Dorma and his own original single, The Night of My Life in the final.

More than 25,000 aspiring stars auditioned for the fourth series of Australian Idol.