Waterford Rose New Favourite After Wooing Punters With Nina Simone

Waterford Rose Kirsten Mate Maher is the new favourite for the Rose of Tralee after the first night of interviews shook up the betting thanks to a range of performances from the weird to the wonderful.

The 21 year-old singer carried off a perfect rendition of Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’

…and was subsequently backed into 9/4 favourite having started the night in the middle of the pack at 16/1.

In one of the highlights of the night, Laois Rose Grainne Hogan joined presenter Daithí Ó Sé in milking a fake cow on stage, but she is a 33/1 shot to be milking the plaudits when the winner is announced on Tuesday night.

Carlow Rose and BoyleSports employee Shauna Ray Lacey also shot out of the group on 16/1 and is now 4/1 second favourite after she opened up about her parents’ struggles and performed a touching tribute to her late father in the form of ‘Crazy World’ by Aslan.

The first night was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster and the interviewees were a big hit with our customers. The Waterford and Carlow representatives earned plenty of plaudits and they’re now the frontrunners according to the betting at least, so we just have to see what night two has up its sleeve.