Rosemount's Ciaran the new Westmeath Bachelor

Rosemount is now home to not only the reigning Rose of Tralee, but also the 2023 Westmeath Bachelor.

Ciaran Clarke was crowned this year's Westmeath Bachelor at a packed Mullingar Arts Centre last night. The law student did enough to convince celebrity judges Louis Walsh, Anne Doyle, and husband and wife team Pippa O'Connor and Brian Ormond that he should be awarded the coveted title ahead of the other five contestants,who included Mullingar native Steven Colvert.

In a post on social media earlier today, the Westmeath Bachelor committee said that they “couldn't be prouder of our Westmeath Bachelor 2023, Ciaran Clarke”.

“He is going to be an amazing ambassador for our town, county and festival and we are so excited to see all that he is going to achieve in the year ahead.

“We are blown away by the support we got last night from everyone and we just cannot thank you all enough.

“A special thank you to our sponsors and to all at Leader and Westmeath County Council for their funding. You have made it possible to make our dream a reality.

“Our judging panel were an unbelievably dynamic team and their presence on stage was unforgettable. Brian, Pippa, Louis and Anne, you have left a lasting impression on Mullingar and you were all so lovely to be around.

“To all of our Bachelors, thank you. Each and every one of you brought something special to that stage last night and remember, once a Westmeath Bachelor, always a Westmeath Bachelor.”

The year's Bachelor Ciaran is 29 years old. Studying to be a solicitor and currently working in a legal costs firm in Dublin, his lifetime ambition is to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest, he says.