QUEENSLAND ROSE TARA Talbot was crowned the international Rose of Tralee last night – but she was overshadowed by one of her competitors.

The 27-year-old secondary school teacher- who had been the bookies’ favourite to take the title – was voted the winner by judges at the competition after impressing on stage. Her talents included singing Mary Black’s Katie and saying “I love hake” in Filipino – her mother’s language – for fish-advert frontman and competition host Dáithí Ó Sé. The Irish Times reports that one insider described Ms Talbot as “a safe pair of hands” for the title.

The audience at Tralee’s Dome arena also enjoyed a performance from Imelda May, who memorably described the contest to the Irish Examiner as “a mix of Miss World, Eurovision and Father Ted”.

But the real star was Dublin Rose Siobhéal Nic Eodhaidh, who tore up the stage with some moves which – we feel safe in saying – many people in the audience would not even have imagined existed. And is this the first time Dáithí Ó Sé has ever uttered the words “hip-hop dance”?

Q&A: What’s it really like being a Rose of Tralee? >