ANYONE WHO TUNED into the Rose of Tralee on Monday night will remember Carlow Rose, Shauna Ray Lacey.

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In a departure from your standard Dome chit-chat, the 24-year-old discussed losing her father, becoming a mother at the age of 21 and the affect her parents’ heroin addiction had on her.

Articulate, talented and personable, Shauna Ray Lacey completed her segment with a rendition of Aslan’s Crazy World – a song her father used to sing to her as a child.

And while this year’s crown ultimately went to Waterford Rose, Kirsten Mate Maher, Shauna has one staunch supporter in Christy Dignam.

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Like much of the rest of the country, the Aslan frontman, who has been vocal about his own addictions over the course of his life, has nothing but praise for Shauna.

According to The Independent, the singer recalls the furore that grew out of Shauna’s performance at the beginning of the week

We were gigging in Drogheda and the phone started hopping. I was wondering why it was ringing all the time because I couldn’t answer, we were about to go on stage.

Thankfully, Christy’s wife was on hand to fill him in, and the pair wasted no time sending Shauna word of their support.

Then my wife rang and she told me about it. We sent her our best wishes and good luck.

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Noting that Shauna was the first televised Rose to have a child, Christy delighted in the break from tradition.

I thought it was amazing. The fact that she was a mother, I thought was great.

This year’s Rose, Kirsten, triumphed over 31 other Roses and succeeded 2017′s winner, Jennifer Byrne.

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