As ever with the Lovely Girls Competition Rose of Tralee, it's always the case that bookies will begin to predict their favourites at an early stage in the competition.

It's never been much of a reliable indicator, however. The bookies haven't correctly predicted a winner in years, but it's never stopped them trying to get in on the action despite their failure to actually pick a winner.

In any event, this year's bookies favourites have been announced by Paddy Power, with Limerick Rose Sinead Flanagan tipped to win at 6/4, with Kildare Rose Emer Fogarty at 4/1 and Kerry Rose Sally Ann Leahy at 9/1.

According to the Rose of Tralee's official website and profile, Sinead is described as being 27 years old and working as a junior doctor, having qualified as a physiotherapist from UL and then going on to study Medicine in UCC. She spent time in Ghana in 2017 volunteering at a hospital and says she hopes to do something similar again in the future.

Meanwhile, Kildare Rose Emer Fogarty is an Occupational Psychologist and won an Intermediate All-Ireland Final in Croke Park with Kildare in 2016. On top of that, she also runs a yoga business as well. She performed 'The Parting Glass' last night, and appeared to win over the audience on the night with her voice - so who knows?

As for Kerry Rose Sally Ann Leahy, she's a Home Economics teacher (that definitely puts her out in front, for sure) in her school in Castlegregory, North Kerry, and she's done work with Barretstown, the Chernobyl Children's Fund, Darkness Into Light and the Kerry Hospice.

Tonight's final goes out on RTE at 8PM.