The first ever televised Rose of Tralee engagement took place last night — and typical of the festival’s bizarre style, the happy couple have a broken leg and mechanical bull to thank for it.

RTÉ star Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin has weighed in to the Rose of Tralee debate to defend the festival from its annual bashing and insist she never felt demeaned by the contest.

Rose of Tralee visitors are set to give thousands of euro today in honour of a cancer sufferer whose fight touched the hearts of the nation.

Fretting fiancés, kissing cods, Father Ted references, and one “very cranky bear” can mean only one thing — the Rose of Tralee is back in town.