Gardaí in Kilkenny have begun an investigation after the winner of this year’s Rose of Tralee, Kirsten Mate Maher, was allegedly racially abused over the weekend.
It is alleged that Ms Maher and her boyfriend were subjected to racially motivated verbal abuse at a fast food takeaway in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The Rose of Tralee winner who was out socialising in the city was allegedly abused by two men in a takeaway on John Street at approximately 3am on Sunday morning.
It is believed one the men verbally abused Ms Maher before her boyfriend intervened, however as the abuse escalated a second man became involved in the incident before the Gardai were called to the scene.
Gardaí say no arrests have yet been made but an investigation into the alleged incident is currently ongoing.