ROSE OF TRALEE Katelyn Cummins and her professional partner Leonardo Lini have been named the winners of RTÉ’s Dancing with the Stars Glitterball Trophy after an action-packed finale this evening. 

“What a year,” Cummins said.

“I could never have imagined that this would be my life,” she continued, reflecting on her previous Rose of Tralee win.

The four finalists – Cummins, Paudie Moloney, Eric Roberts, and Tolü Makay – survived the past few weeks and the elimination of eight of their fellow contestants to make it to tonight’s show.

Each performed two routines with their professional partners tonight. The first was the judges’ choice and the second was a show routine. 

Cummins and Lini tonight first performed an American Smooth to Whistle While You Work by Rachel Zegler, and then a freestyle to Ordinary by Alex Warren.

Cummins and Lini performed an American Smooth to Whistle While You Work by Rachel Zegler. Kyran OBrien Kyran OBrien

For the first time in the season, the judges’ scores were worthless to the performers, with the winner set to be decided purely by the public vote. Still, this didn’t stop the four-strong panel from lashing out 10s and praise to the four final couples.

The winning couple received the maximum of 40 points from the judges in both their dances this evening.

Eliminated contestants Michael Fry, Brian Kennedy, Amber Wilson, Anne Cassin, Niamh Kavanagh, Stephanie Kelly, Philip Doyle and Jordan Dargan reunited with their professional partners for a group routine to Myles Smith’s Stay (If You Wanna Dance) before the results were announced.