Every year when the list of Ireland's most watched TV events is released, the Rose of Tralee sits somewhere near the top, last night it averaged 493,900 viewers - that's a 7,600 increase on last year.
2014's show reached an audience of 1.7 million viewers over the two nights - peaking at 760,000 when Maria Walsh was crowned the Rose of Tralee. An additional 105,000 people streamed the show online.
The number of women applying to take part in the contest also increased this year.
The festival estimates that the event is worth €7m to the local economy, and a further €4m to the wider economy when regional events and extra revenue generated by tourism is factored in.
75% of the winners have been brunettes and 'student' is the most common winner's occupation, followed by nurses, bank workers and teachers.
Half of the festivals attendees come from outside Kerry - and 44% of them pay for local accommodation.
Over 40% of the festival's winners have been Irish - while a quarter of all winners have come from North America.
2011 Dublin Rose, Siobheal Nic Eochaidh's 'hip hop dance' is by far the contest's most shared YouTube moment - it's clocked up over 678,000 views.
Meath Rose, Elysha Brennan is this year's favourite - at odds of 5/4.
Last year's winning rose, Maria Walsh recently joined The Colette Fitzpatrick Show to discuss her reign:
