Festival suffers fall in viewers for second year

THE Rose festival has suffered a slump in first night viewers for the second year in succession — despite getting an average 37% audience share.

Official figures revealed by RTÉ confirm the event was watched by 440,000 (31% share) and 601,000 (42% share) during the pre- and post-Nine O Clock News segments of Monday’s show.

This compares with a 35% and 46% share in 2010, a 53% total share during the 50th anniversary celebrations in 2009, and a 42% total share in 2008.