A 20-year-old primary school teacher from Kilkenny has been crowned the 2004 Rose of Tralee.

Orla O'Shea completed her Bachelor of Education in June and is due to take up her first teaching post at a school in the Swords area of Dublin next month.

Ms O'Shea's mother died of cancer three years ago, but other members of her family were in the Dome in Tralee last night to watch her crowned the 46th Rose.