After battling it out on Dancing with the Stars each week, our Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins and her partner Leonardo Lini have made it through to the programme's Grand Finale on Sunday night.

We caught up with Katelyn ahead of the season's epic final episode.

Having covered Katelyn's performances over the past eleven weeks, we have seen the overwhelming support of her journey from Laois locals online. The Portlaoise apprentice revealed that she was completely taken aback by the encouragement she has received.

"I feel so incredibly grateful for the support I have received from Laois," Katelyn told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

Photo: Katelyn and Leonardo Kyran O'Brian on week eight of the competition

"The first thing I said when I walked out on stage at the Rose of Tralee was that I am a Kilkenny woman. I thought that that would throw people off, that people from Laois wouldn't want to support me. But it has just been absolutely incredible, I never expected this," Katelyn said.

"I have been in touch with so many people in Laois who have resonated with parts of my story, or just because they know someone I went to school with. It's been absolutely phenomenal, I couldn't ask for a better county to get support from.

"I have support from both Kilkenny and Laois, but Laois has just been absolutely amazing for the last few weeks. I really didn't expect them to get behind me as much as they have," she said.

As if the last battle on Dancing with the Stars isn't tiring enough, Katelyn will be jetting straight off to New York for their St Patrick's Day Parade the following morning.

"It is a bit overwhelming," Katelyn admitted to us.

Pictured: Katelyn and Leonardo on DWTS episode two. Photo: Kyran O'Brien.

"This week is not stressful for me in terms of dancing. We're in the final week and we just want to give it one last push, to give one more performance and enjoy ourselves. That hasn't been stressful for me, it has been more enjoyable than anything," she said.

"Knowing that I have to pack up my place in Dublin, and pack up four suitcases to bring to America and Canada with me is crazy," the Ballyouskill native laughed.

"I'm trying to prepare myself and take it all in my stride!" she said.

While filming the series, Katelyn has shared an apartment in Dublin with fellow contestant Singer-songwriter Tolü Makay. Katelyn has formed a great friendship with her co-stars, and has bonded over a shared feeling of imposter syndrome with fellow star Paudie Moloney from The Traitors. 

"This time last year I was sitting my exams in Tullamore, I had applied for the Laois Rose in secret. Then my life did a total 360, every part of my life is out there. It's almost like, how is this real?" she said.

WATCH: See Laois Rose Katelyn Cummins' Dancing with the Stars journey so far!

The Rose of Tralee has a newfound sense of maturity since starting on this amazing journey. 

"I'm growing so much as a person. I'm only 21, but I don't feel the same age as my friends. It's been an incredible experience and I wouldn't change it for the world- I am so grateful for all the experience I've got, and I've said yes to every single opportunity since August.

"I want to make the most out of this, I have only one year to be the Rose of Tralee, to push myself out of my comfort zone and push my boundaries," she said.

Photo credit: Kyran O'Brien

Taking part in Dancing with the Stars has had a massive impact in boosting Katelyn's confidence, which she attributes to the support from pro dancer Leonardo.

"Leonardo has been a big part of it, he has pushed my boundaries and patience every single week," she laughed.

"The biggest thing was believing in myself, I kept saying 'that's so embarrassing, people will laugh at me' if I did certain moves. He told me that it's just dancing, it's a show, a performance. He made me realise that nobody really cares, and it took me a long time to realise that everyone is just focused on themselves.

"I've let Leonardo in an awful lot, especially related to my hearing. I never expected to let someone I barely knew at first in, that's been the biggest part of the experience for me," she said.

While thousands of young girls look up to Katelyn in her fantastic ambassadorship of the Rose of Tralee, she said that she doesn't feel like a role model.

"At different events I've been to, people have said, 'oh, you're such a role model', but I don't feel like I'm doing anything particularly special. I'm just chatting about my experience the past couple of months, and sharing my own story," she said.

What's next for our Laois Rose?

Photo: Kyran O'Brien

When August rolls around, our Laois Rose will graciously hand her sash over to the 2026 Rose of Tralee. Katelyn hopes to get back to work on her apprenticeship, and to keep accepting these amazing opportunities where she can.

"I will make the most of this until August, this year has been incredible and I never expected to put work on hold this year. I really want to get my degree to have something to fall back on, and that still stands to me. After August I'll go back to my apprenticeship, and if opportunities keep coming around, I will work around them and do my best. Finishing the apprenticeship is my priority," she said.

Katelyn and Leonardo continue to rehearse their dances for Sunday's grand-finale, with the final four couples all vying for the coveted Glitterball Trophy.

Each couple will dance two routines on the night. First, each couple will perform a routine from the season as selected by the judges. This could be a routine the judges feel the couple could improve, or one they’d just love to see again.

Katelyn will reprise her Movie Week role of Snow White, as she and Leonardo dance an American Smooth to ‘Whistle While You Work’ by Rachel Zegler. 

The couples will then each perform a second 'Showdance' routine, a freestyle performance that allows them to combine different dance styles to showcase the creativity, skills and storytelling abilities they’ve learned throughout their journey.

Katelyn and Leonardo will dance to ‘Ordinary’ by Alex Warren.

"I had never expected to get to the final, but now that I'm here I can admit that it has been my goal," Katelyn said.

WATCH: Laois Rose secures her spot in Dancing with the Stars Semi-Final!

"In my first week of training, Leonardo asked me what I wanted from the experience. I told him I wanted to be in the final, and he said we'd have to work hard to make it happen. It's not just about winning the Glitterball for me, it's about making it to the end," she finished.

Katelyn and Leonardo are relying on the public vote to decide whether they win this year's Dancing with the Stars.

The Dancing with the Stars Grand Finale airs on Sunday 15 March at 6:30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.