Daithí earns the plaudits despite fall in TV viewers

London Rose Clare Kamembattu is this morning celebrating the successful end to months of well-practiced smiles, manicures and high-heeled shoe blisters after being named the 2010 Rose of Tralee.

However, RTÉ bosses will not be quite as pleased after viewership levels for the annual festival fell by 43,000 compared to last year, although the numbers were up on the 2008 figures.

Despite the plaudits new host Daithí O Sé received for his debut performance as the first Kerry man host, the number of viewers was down on last year’s broadcast on his first night in charge.