Laois Rose Katelyn scores highest in first episode of 'Dancing with Stars'

REIGNING Rose of Tralee, Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins scored the highest on the first episode of the new series of Dancing with the Stars, ending the episode with a total of 31 points.

Dancing with the Stars sees celebrities paired with professional dancers to compete for the glitterball trophy. Its ninth series hit Irish television screens on Sunday 4 January.

Ms Cummins was announced as the third contestant to enter the competition on Tuesday 9 December.

She joined professional dancing partner Leonardo Lini in a tantalizing tango set to The Fate of Ophelia by Taylor Swift.

The latest series introduces a new head judge, Oti Mabuse, who joins Brian Redmond, Arthur Gourounlian and Karen Byrne on the panel.

The 12 celebrities, their professional dancers and the four judges opened the show by performing a group dance to We Are Family by Cedric Gervais x Nile Rodgers.

Other notable dancers include Eurovision winner and singer Niamh Kavanagh, Olympic medal winning rower and doctor Philip Doyle, comedian Michael Fry, Paudie Moloney from The Traitors Ireland and podcaster Amber Wilson who, with her dance partner Alex Vladimirov, comprise the first female dance pairing in the history of the series.

Three new professional dancers ‒ Arianna Favaro, Leonardo Lini and James Cutler ‒ joined returning dancers Laura Nolan, Robert Rowiński, Ervinas Merfeldas, Stephen Vincent, Kylee Vincent, Maciej Zieba, Rebecca Scott, Daniela Roze and Alex Vladimirov.

Ms Cummins (21) was crowned Rose of Tralee in August 2025, becoming the first Laois Rose to be crowned in the festival's 65-year history. She hails from the Laois-Kilkenny border.

Dancing with the Starscontinues on Sunday 11 January on RTÉ One, with the first elimination taking place a week earlier than the previous series.

The show is hosted by Jennifer Zamparelli and Laura Fox.