2025 was a brilliant year for Katelyn Cummins and 2026 has continued in that vein it seems.
The Laois Rose, who was crowned 2025 Rose of Tralee, is now competing in the RTE show Dancing With The Stars.
She, and 11 fellow celebrities, took to the stage for the first time tonight for the opening live show.
Newcomer Leonardo Lini is her dance partner. Leonardo is an Italian dancer, known for his talent in Latin-American, ballroom, and modern dance.
Katelyn delivered “the dance of the night,” according to new head judge Oti Mabuse.
Her paso doble to ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ by Taylor Swift earned a standing ovation from three of the four judges.
While the only one left sitting — Brian Redmond — commenting that she had just caused herself a serious problem – such was the nature of her dance.
It scored her 31 points and left her top of the leaderboard following the completion of all of the other dancers.
As it is Week 1, nobody went home tonight but the scores will carry over to Week 2.
So Katelyn will start the show next Sunday evening in pole position with that episode set to air on RTE One at 6.30pm.
SEE ALSO – Remembering some of the great Laois people who sadly left us in 2025
