DAITHI Ó SÉ MADE his debut as host of the Rose of Tralee competition last night, to either fanfare or consternation, depending on your point of view.

The two-part comp was last presented by popular Today FM presenter Ray D’Arcy.

The first half of the 32 contestants were interviewed by O Sé last night, but it seems that all eyes were on the presenter.

Glucose started a politics.ie thread criticising O Sé’s performance:

Dáithí Ó Sé is embarrassing on the rose of Tralee. Firstly, is he aware of camera positions? Secondly, his accent is hard to understand. Thirdly, he is talking too much and interrupting the roses. Fourthly, his nerves are making the contestants nervous. Shocking presenting performance.

asset test followed up, condemning his fellow politics.ie members for even looking at the festival:

Why are you all watching this Kerry gombeen rubbish at all at all? As for Daithi, I don’t think it matters one bit if he’s good or bad. Who will remember? Apparently though the ladies think he is just divine.

Much of the debate centred on Ó Sé’s accent, described by Glucose as sounding:

…like Tom Cruise in Far and Away.
It’s a hideous accent.

FrankSpeaks was quick to leap to Dáithí’s defence though, responding:

I think your criticism of Dáthaí’s accent is over the top, I had absolutely no problem with it. He probably never attended English elocution lessons but he is easily understood by any English speaker.

Compare Dáthaí’s accent to a Geordie or some of the Scottish one’s and I think most people would find it easier to understand Dáthaí. As I said previously I thought he started poorly but was vastly improved by the end of the show. Remember Ryan Tubridy’s first Late Late I thought it was awful but the second show was a huge improvement.

@curlydena on twitter was baffled by the very concept of the Rose of Tralee, exclaiming:

The Rose of Tralee – it confuses me. I won’t lie. I just don’t get it.

@arcaller wasn’t best pleased and in his fury even forgot who Dáithí is:

Thought RTE programmes couldnt get any worse but was proven wrong by rose of Tralee and Daihi who ever he is cringe cringe.