The 2024 Dancing with the Stars title was clinched by Paralympic athlete Jason Smyth and his dancing associate, Karen Byrne. In the final episode, packed with glitz, glamour, and intense emotions on St. Patrick’s Day, Smyth, who is a legally blind, six-time Paralympic gold medalist, stated that he wanted to demonstrate the possibilities in life. Acknowledging the enormous sacrifices of his spouse while he participated in the competition for the past two and half months, he also appreciated the crucial role and support of Byrne in their journey.
The final saw them compete against Laura Fox, host of Ireland’s Fittest Family, David Whelan from Wild Youth, and well-known drag star Blu Hydrangea. However, the heartwarming performance by Smyth and Byrne to ‘Go the Distance’ by Michael Bolton was what resonated most with the home audience. Their showdance act also featured Byrne, dancing blindfolded, in an effort to mirror Smyth’s vision-impaired reality.
Upon finishing the dance, the emotional Byrne, a Dublin-based dancer and choreographist, received commendation from the judges who appreciated the risky element of her performance. Judge Brian Redmond validated the importance of embracing and supporting diversity, suggesting it has the potential to create magic. Likewise, Loraine Barry, a fellow judge, expressed having gained for themselves the experiences they shared with Jason, and commendably highlighted Karen’s brave participation in the blindfolded dance.
In his concluding remarks, Arthur Gourounlian, another judge, lauded Jason for conquering Dancing with the Stars, extending his warm congratulations.
“I was genuinely moved, as each pair put their heart and soul into their dance. A heartfelt thank you to Karen for undertaking this wonderful journey with Jason. Your performances were not just extraordinary, but also unforgettable. Jason, we all owe you a debt of gratitude for being such an inspiration.
In the grand finale, each duo danced twice, including an act from earlier in the series specifically picked by the three adjudicators and a dazzling showdance that incorporated various dance genres. Despite the jury’s critique and scoring of each performance, the champion of the series was confirmed by viewers’ votes. Smyth and Karen Byrne turned out to be the audience’s favourites for the night.
The judges scored all the eight performances— barring Smyth and Byrne’s samba to Enrique Iglesias’ Rhythm Divine— with a full score of 30. Their vibrant act, however, garnered a respectable total of 28. Additionally, the finale saw a reunion of numerous Dancing with the Stars alumni, including country crooner Cliona Hagan from the third series, fourth series participants Ryan Andrews and Brian Dowling, fifth series’ runner-up Ellen Keane, and fourth series champion Lottie Ryan.
They all participated in an ostentatious Riverdance performance. This performance also starred RTÉ presenter Marty Morrisey and comic Brendan O’Shea playing the bodhrán— both were previous participants of the show.”