THIS year’s Rose of Tralee title was won by New York Rose contestant Lisa Murtagh, 27, who was crowned the 48th Rose of Tralee at the end of a two-night television spectacular in Tralee, Co. Kerry on Tuesday night.

Murtagh works as an attorney in New York, and in the future she plans to pursue other opportunities such as investment banking or teaching law. She is becoming a member of the Irish American Bar Association of New York, and enjoys skiing, travel, reading, horse riding, scuba diving, swimming, watching Irish rugby, running, and eating out.

She was a competitive Irish dancer as a child, and now likes going to Broadway shows and off-Broadway plays, visiting the beach at night, and visiting her family in Ireland.

Her father is originally from Longford Town and her mother is from Athea, Co. Limerick. She says she loves the diversity and energy of hometown New York and the city’s tolerance of different types of people.

She is a fan of Meryl Streep, Julianne Moore, Richard Harris, Maureen O’Hara, Jean Butler, Coldplay and U2, and would love to meet Oprah Winfrey, according to her profile.