Daithi's pupil Sile blossoms into a Rose

The Herald can reveal how the pageant's host (35) taught History and Irish to Sile Ni Dheargain.

And now he'll be having a reunion with the festival dome with Sile (26), who attended Meanscoil na Toirbhirte in Daithi's native home of Dingle.

"I taught her for a full year. She was a great student, always very nice. I was also in the same class as her brother Declan. It's a small world," he explained.

Now gearing up for the first heat in the annual contest, Daithi also revealed how it's "great craic" to return as an engaged man. The former judge met his fiancee Rita Talty after she competed in 2008.

"We came down on Thursday and it was lovely to see everyone again," he said. "I got home to see my family for a day and then it was back to Tralee for the Rose Ball on Friday night. We had the parade and fireworks on Saturday night and the atmosphere has just been wonderful."

As well as hosting the competition for the second time, he is also busy preparing for his wedding next summer.

He revealed: "We would love five or six kids. We're both from big families and both love kids, so why not? I'll take as many as God gives me."

See Rose Diary pg 20