Rose TV audience falls by 130,000 viewers

THE crowning of this year’s Rose of Tralee attracted 130,000 fewer viewers than last year, according to figures released by RTÉ.

Last year more than a million people tuned in to watch the crowning of the Rose, but this year just 892,000 watched Tipperary Rose Aoife Kelly take the 2008 crown.

That aside, however, the competition — which is heading into its 50th year — is still one of the most watched shows on RTÉ.

Online viewing of the show soared by 45%, with people tuning in from locations such as Peru, Bolivia and Qatar.

Aoife’s first official engagement was a trip to Radio Kerry, followed by a photo shoot at the Town Park in Tralee.

She was accompanied by her fiancé, Leon De Klerk.

Speaking after her win, Aoife said she was privileged to have won for Tipperary after the county did so badly in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final against Waterford recently. “It’s an absolute honour. I can’t believe I have got the chance to represent the whole of Ireland now for the rest of the year,” she said.

She also said her future parents-in-law, whom she has yet to meet as they live in South Africa, are proud about her victory: “I’d say South Africa is going mad.”

Aoife said she used to watch the competition in her granny and granddad’s house when she was younger and used to mark her favourites.

“I never even thought I’d be a Rose never mind a Rose of Tralee,” she said.

The Portroe native also said she is undecided about taking a year off from her job as an occupational therapist at the National Rehabilitation Hospital.

Aoife said she would discuss things with her employers when she returned to work on Monday.