Chris de Burgh's Miss World daughter Rosanna Davison engaged after Wesley Quirke proposes with stunning £32,000 ring

By Eoin Murphy

PUBLISHED: 09:19 GMT, 7 January 2013 | UPDATED: 12:08 GMT, 7 January 2013

For almost seven years, they have been the Irish social scene’s golden couple. She was the elegant former Miss World and the daughter of one of the country’s most prolific musicians. He was the chiselled part-time model, part-time businessman and son of a multimillionaire entrepreneur.

And yesterday morning, Wesley Quirke proposed to Rosanna Davison with a customised ring, believed to be worth in the region of €40,000 (£32,000) in Mauritius.

The pair had been staying at Le Saint Géran Hotel on the north-east coast of the island, where the Davison family have holidayed every Christmas and New Year for the past 18 years.

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Set to wed: Chris de Burgh's Miss World daughter Rosanna Davison and boyfriend Wesley Quirke have announced their engagement

After a family meal at the five-star resort, 29-year-old Quirke took his girlfriend to the beach when he went down on one knee and asked for the model’s hand in marriage.

Fittingly, Rosanna looked the epitome of the glamorous ‘lady in red’, decked out in a fitted taffeta strapless cocktail dress, complete with black Louboutins.

Who could say no to that? Rosanna's customised ring is thought to have cost in the region of £32,000

While the news may have come as a welcome surprise to most of the Davison household, one person who was definitely in the know was the 28-year-old’s father, Chris de Burgh.

‘Before the trip, Wes made sure to ask Chris’s permission to ask Rosie to marry him’, said a close friend who has known the Davison family since childhood.

‘He went to the De Burgh/Davison family jewellers in Dalkey and had the ring made especially to Rosanna’s tastes.

‘He has uncharacteristically remained coy on the final total cost – but he sold his prized Ferrari recently and I wouldn’t say he has much change out of €40,000. Certainly, he wanted to go all out with piece of jewellery befitting a former Miss World.

‘Chris had actually given him the green light weeks ago but Wes decided to wait until the Mauritius trip to propose.

‘New Year’s Eve is such a big traditional night for the family that he didn’t want to overshadow it. So he waited until the weekend and then surprised Rosanna on the beach. What was great for her was that she could celebrate immediately with all her family, who were in the resort. It is the perfect start to 2013.’

Rosanna said: ‘Wes asked me to go for a walk on the beach and it was the most gorgeous weather we’ve had so far. At the end of the beach, he got down on one knee an pulled out the ring!

Golden couple: Wesley is a hiselled part-time model, part-time businessman and son of a multimillionaire entrepreneur

Model behaviour: Rosanna, seen here modelling in 2005, was crowned Miss World in 2003

‘I nearly collapsed with shock but of course I accepted immediately and we rushed back to celebrate with my family. Wes then produced a bottle of Champagne on ice from the wardrobe and we all celebrated!’

The couple, dubbed ‘Wesanna’ by the media, met in 2006 in Sandyford nightclub Club 92 and they started dating not long after when he cheekily approached her via Bebo, the social-networking site.

For the first few years of their relationship, they were the darlings of the social scene. Whether it was taking a helicopter to the Galway Races or attending black-tie ball at the Shelbourne, they rarely missed a photo opportunity.

Famous father: Rosanna is the daughter of Lady In Red crooner Chris de Burgh

In 2007, in an attempt to make the most of their celebrity status, Wes even joined the Assets model agency.

But this over-exposure quickly took its toll on the relationship, and within months, Quirke opted to move away from the public eye. He quit modelling, was rarely seen on the Dublin social scene, instead concentrating on his role in the family business, Dr Quirkeys Good Time Emporium.

However, with Rosanna attending an increasing number of events in a solo capacity, it came as little surprise to observers – and to friends of the couple – when it emerged that they had put their relationship ‘on ice’ in the early half of 2009.

Officially, they didn’t split entirely. But after much discussion, they agreed that a ‘break’ was needed.

‘I just needed some time to figure out what I wanted. We are stronger for it,’ said Rosanna in 2010.

‘We have great fun together. He is my best friend. I talk to him about anything and everything. He makes me laugh.'

When the couple rekindled their romance, Quirke maintained a low-key public presence. ‘He loves being with Rosie when the cameras are off,’ says a friend of his. ‘He just doesn’t like the spotlight and that wasn’t helping their relationship.’

In 2010, he asked Rosanna to move in with him in a luxury house in Foxrock. Since then, the pair have been enjoying a life of domestic bliss and got a dog, which they named Ted. Keen to have something to fall back on after modelling, Rosanna – who already has a first-class degree to her name – is studying biomedicine and nutrition.

She caused a stir after the September publication of her shoot for the German edition of Playboy.

When it comes to her nuptials, she could prove just as unpredictable. Asked how she envisaged her wedding day, Rosanna said: ‘It could be a Vegas Hangover situation. I could see myself doing that.

‘My parents would kill me. They’d miss the day out. But I like the idea of a nice wedding with my friends, family and relatives. It wouldn’t necessarily have to be a big glitzy affair at all. It would be something intimate – something very much about the couple.’