Texas Rose takes the crown

The girl from the Lone Star State has become a star in her own right, after being crowned the 2013 Rose of Tralee.

Texas contestant Haley O Sullivan, whose grandfather emigrated from Bere Island in West Cork aged just 17, won the competition last night after wowing the judges with her southern belle charm.

The brunette beauty, from Dallas, was equally quick to catch the eye of the crowds in Tralee and those watching at home as she took to the stage on Tuesday evening.

And, after the almost obligatory bizarre story about her past, the GAA fanatic rushed to celebrate with her boyfriend Davey's seven-year-old daughter Lilly - who she earlier joked "thinks she is the Texas rose herself" - underlining why this rose was picked from the 32-strong bunch.

"Lilly is balling her eyes out, she's just a little overwhelmed," the stunned star in the making explained.

The dramatic late-night win means Ms O Sullivan has become the first ever Texas Rose of Tralee.

However, she was keen to emphasise the win owes much to the memory 2010 Texas contestant, Adrienne Hussey, who tragically died in Jan 2012 aged just 26 of a brain aneurysm.

In recent months the 2013 winner has been deeply involved in campaigns to help raise funds for medical scholarships to study this type of brain injury at the University of Limerick as a tribute to her colleague. She said the "fact I can carry on her legacy after the strong impact she made on everybody" and the support she received from Adrienne's own family are close to her heart.

The 25-year-old said she is not certain what her 12-month reign will bring, but admitted she would like to spend more time in Ireland after earlier telling TV viewers she had fallen in love with Derry on a recent visit.

Ms O Sullivan's performance on the second night show underlined why bookies included her among their most likely winners for days, with her video rendition of the popular "Harlem Shuffle" dance - complete with 31 back-up roses - proving to be one of the highlights of the evening.

Her father Mark also contributed to the win - albeit in typical Texas style - by whooping when referred to as the Lone Star State's very own Stetson-hat wearing George Clooney.

While the 2013 winner's night was full of surprises, however, she was clear one particular piece of unexpected news would not be on the cards.

After Monday night's shock on-air engagement of New Orleans rose Molly Molloy Gambel and her boyfriend Kyle Catlett, Ms O Sullivan said she forewarned her own boyfriend not to repeat the move. "No, no, Davey won't be up. We had a conversation last night," she joked.