Jason Smyth crowned winner of RTÉ’s Dancing With the Stars

Following 11 weeks of dancing, retired Paralympic sprinter Smyth and Byrne were voted the overall winners of the competition out of a field of 11 couples.

“Incredible. It’s about showing what’s possible and I really hope that’s what I’ve done through this journey,” Smyth said.

Smyth thanked his wife for the sacrifices she made over the two-and-a-half months of the show and his professional partner Byrne for her support.

Smyth and Byrne danced their week seven samba to Rhythm Divine by Enrique Iglesias as chosen by the judges before a show dance to Michael Bolton’s Go the Distance.

The pair scored 28 out of 30 in the judges’ choice and a perfect 30 of 30 in the show dance.

In recognition of Smyth’s vision impairment, Byrne performed their show dance blindfolded.

Presenters Jennifer Zamparelli and Doireann Garrihy were on hand for the final alongside judges Brian Redmond, Loraine Barry and Arthur Gourounlian.

The judges scores did not count towards the final with the results decided entirely by the public vote.

The three beaten finalists were Wild Youth frontman David Whelan and Salome Chachua, RTÉ 2FM presenter Laura Fox and Denys Samson and drag queen Blu Hydrangea and Simone Arena.

Viewers were treated to a host of returns from competitors in years past, including Marty Morrissey, Bernard O’Shea, Cliona O’Hagan and season four winner Lottie Ryan.

Ryan’s fellow season four dancers Ryan Andrews and Brian Dowling also appeared, as did swimmer Ellen Keane from season five and presenter Suzanne Jackson who danced on season six of the show.

The cast of season seven also made a return, dancing together to Murder on the Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Baxtor, the 2001 hit back on the scene thanks to Saltburn.

In celebration of St Patrick’s Day, the cast of Riverdance took to the dancefloor during the grand final.