Friends and supporters gathered at the Black Stuff Irish pub on Thursday night to welcome back Luxembourg Rose of Tralee Nicola McEvoy.

Scores of fans headed to the bar to meet and congratulate the triumphant star of the International contest for the Irish diaspora.

Nicola, 26, returned to Luxembourg on Wednesday night, a week after being crowned International Rose of Tralee in Ireland. Still reeling from the news, she has had little time to sit down and relax.

On her first night she headed straight to the Ed Sheeran concert at the Atelier. Nicola confided to wort.lu that she even bumped into the singer before the show and got a photograph with him.

On Thursday, Nicola toured the local media, giving countless interviews before heading to the Black Stuff for a night of live music. She will spend the next few days preparing for her return to work as a secondary school teacher at the European School on Monday.

A formal celebratory party is planned by the Luxembourg Rose of Tralee committee on October 6 at the Hotel Royal.