WATCH: Rose of Tralee winner praises Limerick pupils after amazing performance
Katelyn Cummins made her way to Kilfinny National School to reunite with one very special friend
2025 ROSE of Tralee winner Katelyn Cummins delighted students at Scoil Chiaráin - Kilfinny National School when paying them a visit.
The Laois Rose made her way to Adare to reunite with one very special friend, her Rose Bud from the event, Ciarán Lenihan.
From here, the Dancing With The Stars 2026 winner was blown away even further when Rose Bud Ciarán performed the Rose of Tralee song, with the help of classmates.
Following a well-deserved round of applause, Kilfinny students then gathered up some hard-hitting questions for Katelyn.
When asked if she preferred competing in the Rose of Tralee or Dancing with the Stars, the Laois native revealed that even though she made “lots of friends” through being a rose, Dancing With The Stars was her favourite.
She told students that being part of the RTÉ dance competition was a “once in a lifetime” opportunity that she couldn’t say no to, especially since she and her family have been fans of the show for nearly a decade.
While being questioned on how she is finding her newfound fame, Katelyn said “It can be challenging at times. I really really enjoy it and love meeting new people and making new friends everywhere I go." Despite it being “tiring,” she told students: “I only have one year to do this and I’m going to make the absolute most of it.”
Giving advice to the youngsters, who ranged from Junior Infants all the way up to Sixth Class, the 2025 Rose of Tralee reminded them to “always dream big and believe in yourself,” while also encouraging them that “if someone tells you, you can’t do something- prove them wrong.”
As if the day could not get any more special for the Kilfinny school, she then posed for stunning pictures in the sunshine with each individual class, thanking them for their warmth and kindness before making her way to another engagement.