Mickey Joe Harte was the first celebrity to be eliminated from series eight of Dancing with the Stars tonight.

Mickey Joe and pro partner Daniela Roze had the lowest number of votes combined from the first three episodes.

Mickey Joe said:  “It’s been great craic, I’ve made so many good friends. It’s just one of those things, I’m so disappointed for Daniela, it’s her first year as well and she really worked hard to get me to this level, so give it up for Daniela.”

Mickey Joe and Daniela will speak to Laura Fox on 2FM at 9.30am tomorrow morning for their first broadcast interview following their exit from the show.

Opening the show tonight was social media star Kayleigh Trappe and her dance partner Ervinas Merfeldas. The pair performed a Cha-cha-cha to the Sabrina Carpenter hit Espresso.

Judge Loraine Barry said “All the steps of the Cha-cha-cha were there. I just wanted a little bit more.”

Judge Brian Redmond said: “Espresso – I felt like I could have done with one. It just needed a little more punch.”

Kayleigh and Ervinas scored a total of 24 points. 
The second couple to take to the floor was celebrity chef Kevin Dundon and his partner Rebecca Scott. They danced a Quickstep to Soda Pop by Robbie Williams featuring Michael Bublé.

Arthur Gourounlian said:  “Let me tell you something you definitely can move! Sometimes it was like you were running instead of dancing. But overall I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”

Brian said: “As a quickstep it was quite dapper in places, but missing the odd bit here and there. Overall you recovered very well. Much better than last week!”

Kevin and Rebecca scored a total of 18 points. 

The third couple to perform was Former Miss Universe Ireland Aishah Akorede and her partner Robert Rowiński, who danced a dramatic Tango to the Artemas track I Like the Way You Kiss Me.

Karen Byrne said: “From the whole beginning I was just captivated. There was fast choreography going on there, but it looked like it didn’t faze you whatsoever.”

Loraine said: “The set, the mood, the colouring, it really captivated everyone. But all through it you kept your composure, that beautiful length. Well done!

Arthur said: “I like the way you played it… it was absolutely fierce!”

Aishah and Robert scored a total of 30 points. 

The fourth couple to dance were Olympic gold medalist and gymnast Rhys McClenaghan and his pro partner Laura Nolan. They stormed the dance floor with a Cha-cha-cha to Bruno Mars’ hit Treasure.

Loraine judge said: “For me Rhys, you have a code of discipline that I admire. You are authentic to the dance and to the steps. Tonight you absolutely did that. The back flip, I’ve seen it. But it doesn’t need it in the Cha-cha.”

Arthur said: “To me, dancing is the language of expression. It felt like sometimes you were a bit disconnected from the music. But overall that was a polished Cha-cha. You are a showman!”

Brian said: “Rhys, Mr consistent, week 3 you did a fabulous technical job of a very difficult dance. You’re definitely ice cool, but I just want a little bit more of that fire before you really set me alight.”

Rhys and Laura scored a total of 30 points. 
Next up was Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly and her pro dance partner Maciej Zieba, who danced a Samba to the reggae hit Give Me Hope Jo’anna by DJ Jazzy D GrooveMaster.

Loraine said “For me I saw a lot of Samba. It was there. It wasn’t done quite correctly , but you gave it a good go.”

Arthur said “I could not stop dancing with you. You threw every single shape you had into this number. We all know the samba is the celebrity killer, but you survived!”

Brian said: “In terms of putting a smile on my face you certainly did that – even if the timing didn’t add up!”

Joanna and Maciej scored a total of 19 points. 

The sixth couple tonight were Mrs. Brown’s Boys actor Danny O’Carroll and his dance partner Salome Chachua, with a Jive to C’mon Everybody by Eddie Cochran.

Arthur said: “For a jive you need to have this ball of energy, which you had at times. I wish you were more in control. But overall to me it was still a good attempt at the Jive.”

Brian said: “You cleaned up last week, but this week was more like airing your dirty laundry in the street at times. That struggle was there a little, but there is no doubt at all in your work ethic.”

Loraine said: “For me Jive is a test if stamina, and that you completed from start to finish. But the actual structure, you did well.”

Danny and Salome scored a total of 24 points. 

Hoping to be lucky number seven tonight was comedian Gearóid Farrelly and his partner Stephen Vincent, leaned into an elegant Viennese Waltz to R.E.M.’s Everybody Hurts.

Brian said: “The flow and power of that Viennese Waltz is exactly what we were looking for.”

Karen said “Gearóid, you’re a great little spinner! I absolutely adored this dance. The ending was so simple, but it was perfect.”

Loraine said: “You guys have created this signature move, the changing of the hold while you are dancing, and that is incredibly difficult to do. I loved it.”

Arthur said: “It was like watching a delightful conversation between you two. It wasn’t just dance, it was a moment.”

Gearóid and Stephen scored a total of 30 points

Next up, Ireland AM presenter, Elaine Crowley danced a sizzling Salsa to Turn the Beat Around by Gloria Estefan and The Miami Sound Machine with her partner Denys Samson.

Karen said: “Live television is scary. You kept going. This is your first dance to have big lifts in it. You kept going, be proud of yourself, don’t be disappointed, you did it.”

Loraine said: “When you started, I thought, this is Elaine’s dance. I can understand the sheer disappointment. But you didn’t walk off the floor, you kept going.”

Brian said: “I felt your stress. Shame the mistakes were there, as it was definitely setting itself up to be a notable  achievement.”

Elaine and Denys scored a total of 25 points. 
The ninth couple to take to the floor tonight were actress Yasmin Seky and her pro partner Simone Arena. The pair danced a kooky Charleston to Meghan Trainor and T-Pain’s, Been Like This.

Arthur said: “I’ve been waiting for you to have a moment, and this was it! You have blown the competition wide open”

Brian said: “Great energy, great lifts, big on technical quality as well. But overall, we finally got to see Yasmin in her full radiant glory.”

Karen said: “The week that you needed to bring your A game, that’s exactly what you did.”

Yasmin and Simone scored a total of 36 points. 

The tenth couple to perform were singer-songwriter Mickey Joe Harte and his pro partner Daniela Roze, who followed suit with a Foxtrot to Hozier’s Too Sweet.

Arthur said: “You put hard work into it and you brought elegance to the ballroom. You demonstrated a smooth foxtrot tonight. Finally the dancer has arrived!”

Brian said: “A big improvement on the last few weeks. Mickey Joe Harte is a ballroom boy!”

Loraine said: “I’m going to christen you a ballroom dancer. You were great!”

Mickey Joe and Daniela scored a total of 28 points. 

The final couple, taekwondo OIympian Jack Woolley and Alex Vladimirov closed the show tonight with an energetic Jive to The Kid LAORI and Justin Bieber’s viral hit Stay.

Brian said: “With your background I was hoping that the kicks and flicks would be on point, and my God were they! Energy was great, and timing crystal clear!”

Karen said: “I feel I’m – for once – lost for words. You’re so captivating to look at.”

Arthur said: “You didn’t just show up, you brought the house down. Fireworks were exploding everywhere. The taekwondo kick delivered a knock out performance.”

Jack and Alex scored a total of 33 points. 

The glitz, glamour, and nail-biting competition will continue on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player next Sunday, January 26th at 6:30pm.

 -ENDS- 

Date: Sunday January 19th 2025

Photography credit: Kyran O’ Brien

Images sent directly to newsdesks via wetransfer by Kyran O’ Brien – kobpix@gmail.com

RTÉ Communications: Rayna Connery and Éadaoin Nic Giolla Chomhaill

Notes to Editor: 

ABOUT DANCING WITH THE STARS 2025

Filling our Sunday evenings with glitz and glamour from January, the RTÉ One series sees 11 well-known figures team up with a professional dancer to perform a live routine every week. Each pairing will have a different dancing genre to master every week, from the Charleston to hip hop, and they’ll have just seven days to perfect their routine before performing live to the nation.

Each celebrity couple will be scored by an expert panel of four judges and the viewing public at home, with the winning couple claiming the much-coveted glitter ball trophy at the end of the series.

Dancing with the Stars is produced by ShinAwiL for RTÉ.

Dancing with the Stars is proudly sponsored by Hyundai.

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