REPRO FREE -- Daith O'Se and the Texas Rose Haley O'Sullivan on television during the first part of this year's Rose of Tralee Festival .. Photo By : Domnick Walsh / Eye Focus LTD © Tralee Co Kerry Ireland Phone Mobile 087 / 2672033 L/Line 066 71 22 981 E/mail - info@dwalshphoto.ie www.dwalshphoto.com

20-08-2013: Haley O'Sullivan, Texas Rose , is crowned as the 2013 Rose of Tralee at the festival dome in Tralee on Tuesday night. Picture: Eamonn Keogh (MacMonagle, Killarney)

20-08-2013: Haley O'Sullivan, Texas Rose , reacts with shock after being announced as the 2013 Rose of Tralee at the festival dome in Tralee on Tuesday night. Picture: Eamonn Keogh (MacMonagle, Killarney)

20-08-2013: Haley O'Sullivan, Texas Rose , reacts with shock after being announced as the 2013 Rose of Tralee at the festival dome in Tralee on Tuesday night. Picture: Eamonn Keogh (MacMonagle, Killarney)

Conspiracy theories are mounting after the Rose of Tralee's name and family crest appeared on the prize of silverware cutlery two days before the winner was announced.

Several eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the family crest of eventual winner, the Texas rose Haley O'Sullivan, had already been emblazoned on to the winner's Newbridge Silverware cutlery on Monday night.

Haley won the coveted crown last night, beating out 31 other contestants from around the world.

As tradition dictates, the winner receives a Newbridge Silverware cutlery set with her family crest as part of her prize.

Viewers noticed that the O'Sullivan family crest had already been engraved into the set on Monday night, when the cameras flashed to the prize.

After Ms O'Sullivan appeared on The Ray D'Arcy Show on Today FM earlier today, several listeners contacted the station in order to query whether or not the winner had been chosen prior to the live broadcast.

“Last night’s winner Hayley O’Sullivan’s crest was already engraved on the cutlery on Monday night," one listener said. "It was shown by the camera man before the best escort was announced. Coincidence?!! Not likely!”

Another listener wrote: “I could be wrong but I’m nearly sure on the first night, when showing the silver cutlery during the escort award, O’Sullivan was engraved on the knife...If so this would mean the winner was picked before the live show.”

John Drummey from the festival office told The Ray D’Arcy Show on Today FM: “Yes apparently that was an O’Sullivan family crest on the cutlery on Monday night. That’s just a coincidence. Newbridge just wanted to show that they can provide cutlery with the family crest. The escort will have his own family crest engraved on it.”

The show also contacted Newbridge Silverware, who responded: “That was purely coincidental. RTE filmed promotional stock and the O’Sullivan crest was picked because it’s a good Kerry name. That is not the actual cutlery that the winning Rose or escort receives. They will have their own family crest engraved on it.”

Judges for the competition included Mary Kennedy and several previous Roses.

Caitlin McBride

Online Editors