Rose of Tralee presenter Dáithí Ó Sé says his new co-host Kathryn Thomas will bring something new to the show without taking anything away from him.

Kathryn joins Dáithí on stage for the first of two nights later this evening.

Roses representing Ireland and abroad will take to the stage at the Dome in the Kerry Sports Academy at the MTU.

Dáithí told The Pat Kenny Show he couldn't think of anyone better to be hosting with.

"I think that's for legal and insurance purposes," he laughed.

"We're delighted to have Kathryn on board this year.

"The boss came to me there a few months ago to see what I thought about the whole thing.

"I said, 'It depends who you're going to put there with me.'

"They came back with Kathryn, I know Kathryn for around 20 years, we're good buddies.

"That has been coming across over the last few days as well as we put the shows together.

"People thought it was taking something from me, I see it more as adding something to the shows as opposed to taking anything away from me."

Kathryn Thomas and Dáithí Ó Sé at the RDS, Dublin in August 2022. Picture by: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

Dáithí outlines what we can expect from this year's competition.

"We have 18 Roses on stage tonight, and 14 then tomorrow night," he said.

"We've special guest Erica Cody on tonight, we've the Tumbling Paddy's tomorrow.

"So loads of fun there really, and loads of party pieces as well.

"I think we've nailed that balance between Kathryn's Roses and the Roses that'll be with me as well," he added.

The current Rose of Tralee, Westmeath's Rachel Duffy, will hand over her crown on Tuesday night.

Main image: Dáithí Ó Sé and Kathryn Thomas meet this year’s 32 Irish and International Roses to launch the Rose of Tralee International Festival 2023 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin. Picture by: Andres Poveda