'Fair play'.

People tend to make jokes about the Rose of Tralee and how it's old-fashioned, completely out of touch and irrelevant in today's day and age. Despite this, women enter every year and people tune in and watch every year and it's still very much a popular tradition. Sometimes, one of the contestants touches an emotional chord and tonight it was the Carlow Rose who spoke about growing up in a household where addiction was prevalent. Shauna said that she and her brother were living with parents who were struggling with "active addiction". Thankfully her mum has recovered and was there to watch her in the competition alongside Shauna's partner and their daughter Emmy. People were moved by her story with some even predicting Shauna as an early winner.

The Carlow Rose story is inspiring. She’s been through so much and has done so much for addiction services/charities. A beautiful woman. Hope she wins. #RoseofTralee

— Niamh Traynor ? (@NiamhTraynor) August 20, 2018

The #CarlowRose is so fab, honest & open. Doing her bit to make a differenc. #RoseofTralee

— Emma ? (@emmielou0606) August 20, 2018

Ok the #carlowrose is awesome #RoseOfTralee

— Sinéad (@nasinead) August 20, 2018

#roseoftralee Well done and fair play Carlow Rose. Best wishes from a Kerry woman. You are Amazing. Xxxxxxxxx

— Nicola Coffey (@coffey_nicola) August 20, 2018

A few roses in and I can already see a winner #carlowrose #RoseofTralee

— EimerMcPhillips (@EimerMcP) August 20, 2018

Well, this was some story. My cynical radar was set off because it's #Roseoftralee but... Wow, proper comeback through adversity job. Good on her.

— Emmet Ryan is doubling down on sandwiches (@action81) August 20, 2018

Wow is the Carlow rose the most real contestant ever!go girl!! #Roseoftralee

— Rachel Whelan (@Raqidoodle) August 20, 2018

The Carlow Rose nearly has me in tears. Even if she doesn't win, she'll be the best thing about #RoseofTralee this year. Fair play to her.

— Nadine O'Regan (@NadineORegan) August 20, 2018

Shauna then sang Crazy World, a fantastic rendition too, and said that it was a song her dad would sing to her and although he has since passed away, it was a way for her to remember him on such a special night.

Wow the Carlow Rose is such an inspiration. What an intelligent, well spoken and driven young woman. I'm in awe of her. #RoseOfTralee

— Karen Earls (@Karen_101) August 20, 2018

#RoseofTralee Loved the Carlow Rose what a brave and inspirational young woman and nice to see stereotypes being broken down as she's not a typical rose she has shown so much courage in the face of her families issues and come out the other side would love her to win it.

— Aisling Prendergast (@Aislingp93) August 20, 2018

Switched over to #Roseoftralee for a laugh at the ridiculous of it all only to find the festival has only gone and joined the 21st century! G'wan Carlow #carlowrose

— Sandra O'Sullivan (@SandraOSulliva3) August 20, 2018