Rose of Tralee host Kathryn Thomas says her daughter and mother are 'dotty for Daithi'
Speaking exclusively to Extra.ie, bubbly presenter Kathryn said her eldest daughter Ellie and even her mother are dotty for Daithi O'Se.
'Ellie was watching last night,' Kathryn told Extra.ie. 'Grace couldn't care less about the Rose of Tralee,' she laughed. Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas. Pic: Domnick Walsh
'But Ellie, my seven-year-old, is absolutely enthralled. She loves the songs and all of the style. And she loves all the rosebuds as well. So she was watching but she doesn't really care about me at all.'
However, there is one performer who is the apple of little Ellie's eye.
'She's a big fan of Daithi. She loves him.'
And it's not just Ellie who is dotty for Daithi; 'My mother is coming to the show tonight and she is also a mega Daithi fan.' Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas. Pic: Domnick Walsh
But for Kathryn, the real stars are the 32 Rosebuds.
'They are all so incredibly talented. I have to say the New Zealand Rose's performance was incredible. She sang one of my all-time favourite songs. She Moves Through the Fair, and I thought she was absolutely incredible.'
But Kathryn says there are more amazing acts set to grace the rose stage tonight. Kathryn Thomas. Pic: Domnick Walsh
'I've just been in dress rehearsals and there are some brilliant performances tonight as well. I also love contemporary dance. I thought the Kerry dance yesterday was amazing. We've got another one of them to look forward to tonight.'
And Kathryn says she is somewhat of an accomplished mover herself and may someday be tempted to showcase her footwork on RTE's flagship show, Dancing with the Stars. South Australia Rose Beth Mooney. Pic: Domnick Walsh
'I am an incredible freestyle dancer,' Kathryn joked with Extra.ie. 'If anybody asks me to do any sort of choreography, then I'm a disaster.'
But she says she is not averse to some professional classes and may someday partake in RTE's flagship show Dancing with the Stars. Kathryn Thomas in Q102's new studio.
'I have been asked a number of times to do Dancing with the Stars, but so far I've resisted.
'But there might come a time. For now, my focus is on the Rose of Tralee and my radio show on Q102, but one day you may see me on Dancing with the Stars.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ex-Ireland AM host returns to show after shock exit four years ago and emotionally says ‘this was my home'
'This is really weird' says star on returning to Virgin Media studios BACK TO THE START Ex-Ireland AM host returns to show after shock exit four years ago and emotionally says 'this was my home' A FORMER Ireland AM host has made her return to the show after her shock exit over four years ago. Dublin lady, Anna Daly, presented on the hit breakfast show from 2008 until 2021 when she moved to the rival station over on RTE. 3 Anna Daly returned to Ireland AM after four years today 3 Anna hosted the show from 2008 to 2021 Anna worked on the show first as a reporter behind-the-scenes and then as a news anchor. The popular presenter has since gone on to host Hospital Live and Future Island. But, the Irish star looked more than happy to be back where it all started as she sat down with Ireland AM hosts Muireann O'Connell and Tommy Bowe in studio. Tommy exclaimed: "You're back on the Ireland AM couch!" Anna admitted: "This is really weird. It's weird, driving in today was strange because for 15 years I was here, behind-the-scenes and then hosting here on Ireland AM. "Then I was on Weekend AM." The 48-year-old joked: "But now I'm sitting here and I'm like why haven't they fixed the glass yet, I'm fixing things in my head here." Muireann shouted over to the producers and laughed: "Guys quick come on do something." Anna said: "I just haven't been here in years, but this was my home for a long time and I grew up on Ireland AM." The Dublin native gushed over her experience working on the show and said she "learned her craft" on set. Ireland AM star returns to air after WEEKS missing She said: "You get incredible training here, between editing and producing." Anna never stops when it comes to work, but with three young kids at home she confessed it can be a challenge. Her two eldest sons are about to enter secondary school and the star told how it's been a "completely new phase". NEW CHAPTER The TV star revealed it's been a "weird shift mentally" and added: "Trying to give them a bit more freedom is tough." She said: "I'm used to everything for them being around the corner and walking them everywhere. "But suddenly they have this new independence." Tommy agreed with Anna confessing that he "doesn't feel ready" for his daughter to enter secondary school. Anna remarked: "Exactly and academically they can be fine, but you just hope they are ready emotionally."
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rose of Tralee winner says title means more than tiara amid bosses' decision
Rose Of Tralee winner Katelyn Cummins has said winning the title means more to her than getting to wear a tiara. This year, the Laois Rose was given a mega prize package, including a car for 12 months, a Kerry holiday and free hair styling for a year, in exchange for the coveted tiara. It comes after festival bosses decided in 2022 to scrap giving a stunning bespoke tiara designed by either Tipperary Crystal and Newbridge Silverware to the winner. But electrician apprentice Katelyn revealed she didn't even think in the moment about what she had won. She told the Irish Mirror: 'It was absolutely unreal. Like, you don't even think in the moment that I'm not getting this or I'm not doing that. You're just in the moment and you're enjoying just being given the title, (which) is everything to me. Do you know what I mean? 'Like, there's nothing quite like it,' she said. RTÉ revealed that over half a million viewers tuned in to see the Laois Rose crowned this year's Rose of Tralee winner. Katelyn said waking up on Wednesday morning as the Rose of Tralee winner felt 'surreal'. 'It feels surreal. Honestly, it doesn't feel real at all like this after happening, and I don't think it will for a few days. 'I think I'm just going to kind of enjoy my time with the girls and the lads down here, and then I think it'll all hit me when I head back home.' The 20-year-old plans to return back to work as an electrician next Monday morning. Figures from RTÉ revealed that on Tuesday night, a peak audience of 532,000 tuned in at 11.20pm as the 2025 International Rose of Tralee was crowned. Across Monday and Tuesday night's broadcasts, RTÉ One and RTÉ One +1 drew an average audience of 424,000. On Tuesday night, an average audience of 505,000 watched after the news on RTÉ One, with a 55 per cent share of the available audience tuning in. The show had a 1-minute reach of over 1.2 million on RTÉ One and RTÉ One +1 across both nights. Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins reacts to winning the Rose of Tralee (Image: RTE News) It was a record high for the RTÉ Player as it has so far recorded 202,000 total streams to date for the festival, with viewers tuning in from more countries than ever before. A total of 102 countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Germany, Greece, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, India, Kenya and Malaysia, all had viewers tuning in. Katelyn previously opened up about taking a trade as her career path and how some of her customers get a shock when they see her at their front door. She previously said: 'Yes, they would be shocked in a good way. People are very enthusiastic in a good way about it. They're very supportive and ask me if I know any more female electricians. I love doing it and I am so happy that there are more women getting into it now. 'It's so empowering for women to be able to see that there are other women doing it. I think that pushes other women to do that I am delighted about.' She also said it was her dad who introduced her to being an electrician. 'Growing up on a dairy farm, I'm so used to working with my hands… the hard work was always built into me from such a young age. 'School was never really for me. I didn't enjoy it that much. The Leaving Cert didn't stress me out. After I did work experience in TY, I knew I wanted to do something different. 'My dad dropped me in with the local electrician for the week and I absolutely loved it.' Katelyn Cummins (Image: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD) Opening up about her decision to enter the Kerry festival, she said she was looking forward to meeting new friends. She said: 'It was the exciting idea of making new friends. I originally took part in the Laois selection because I didn't have that many friends in Laois and I wanted to make more friends and have a better social life in Laois with lots of new girls. 'With my job, I just work with a lot of lads all the time so it would be nice to meet a lot of new girls. After school, girls drift apart, and it was just wanting to make more friends in the area.' Katelyn added that seeing last year's Rose of Tralee winner Keeley O'Grady encouraged her to enter the competition. 'I'm 20 and I was approached by the coordinator back two years ago when I was working part-time in a hotel. She was going around scouting for girls and she asked. 'But I had just turned 18 and I felt I was too young for it. I was doing my Leaving Cert year as well. 'Then when I saw Keeley O'Grady was 21 and crowned the Rose of Tralee it just showed that anything is possible, and you didn't have to have a certain background or be a certain age. 'That's probably what pushed me. I think it's so empowering for girls this year because there was such a wide age group. There's a lot of younger girls going for it.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week
Extra.ie
7 hours ago
- Extra.ie
EXCLUSIVE: Rose of Tralee host Dáithí Ó Sé's son Ógie makes his Dome debut
Rose of Tralee host Dáithí Ó Sé skipped the after-after-party celebrations opting instead for a 'relatively' early' night in bed, can exclusively reveal. 'Her'e c'mere and I tell ya,' a jovial Dáithí told Extra. 'There was talk of a party at 3.45 in the morning and they were trying to get me to go but I got out of dodge,' he laughed. Seasoned star Dáithí, who once again hosted the Rose of Tralee to great aplomb, said he and his wife Rita- who he met while she was herself a rose competitor, opted for family time over fun times. Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas. Pic: Domnick Walsh 'Rita and Ógie (Dáithí's affectionate name for his young son) were up in the room so I headed for the hills.' And it was indeed a special family occasion for the O'Sé clan, as wife Rita returned to the Dome for the first time in many years, with eleven-year-old Ogie making his Dome debut. 'Rita hasn't been back to the Dome for many years so she was delighted to come along with me this year and savour the atmosphere inside in the Dome,' Dáithí told Extra. Dáithí Ó Sé and his wife Rita. Pic: VIP Ireland And his mini-me son Ógie is already eyeing up his famous father's role as host with the most. 'And it was Ógie's first ever time to come to the Rose of Tralee and he was absolutely fascinated. He really enjoyed it. He was actually supposed to be heading home after Monday night but he cajoled us into allowing him to stay on,' laughed Dáithí And so content with watching from the wings little Ógie went full on Rose of Tralee mode. Dáithí Ó Sé. Pic: Domnick Walsh 'Sure when he saw everyone dressed up we went out and rented a Tuxedo for the final and he was off stage during rehearsals. So I think he's trying to do me out of a job,' laughed Daithi When pressed for some of the goings-on from the afterparty Dáithí said he was't privy to the celebrations. 'As I said I headed for the hills. Youth is but a wonderful thing. But I heard they went out all night with nary a wink of sleep to be had.'
