06-05-2025
The most memorable Late Late Show bits from Kielty's second season
Patrick Kielty's second season as host of the Late Late Show is coming to an end this Friday, with the show set to take its summer break.
Patrick, who took over as host from Ryan Tubridy in 2023, will host the final episode of this season after an eventful year, both news and entertainment wise; from a general election, to departures and arrivals on radio stations, and of course, those who we had to say goodbye to.
But what were the most memorable moments of this past season of the Late Late Show? Ahead of playing Mick McCarthy on a film about Saipan, Steve Coogan gave his two cents on the issue that continues to divide the nation: should Roy have gone home? Pic: RTÉ
Because it hasn't been done to death quite yet, Steve Coogan was announced as Mick McCarthy in a dramatisation of the argument that divided a nation.
With then Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane getting sent home by the then Republic of Ireland manager Mick/walking out due to the inadequate training conditions (depending on who you ask), Steve gave his two cents on the row over two decades later.
While playing Mick may have influenced his decision to ever so slightly lean toward the gaffer, Steve revealed that Roy would always have a defender in his mother — saying, 'It's very hard to say, probably because I'm playing Mick I'm 51% on Team Mick and 49% on Team Roy.
'My mother would never hear a word said against Roy Keane. There is something visceral about [Roy], again to do with national identity, something very authentic about him. There is something visceral about him, again to do with national identity, something very authentic about him.'
Comedian and arch-nemesis of Donald Trump, Rosie O'Donnell, moved to Ireland following Mr Trump's re-election as President of the US with her child, Clay.
Appearing on the Late Late Show alongside Daniel O'Donnell (no relation), Daniel regaled her with a brilliant story of the time he and Majella appeared on Room to Improve, with Rosie either politely listening or being genuinely engaged with Daniel's story.
However, the piece de resistance came after Patrick gave Rosie arguably the most Irish housewarming present ever — a Daniel O'Donnell calendar, with Patrick telling Rosie 'it's the law that every Irish household have these.' Patrick gave a heartbreaking tribute to his mum a week after she passed, saying that she always watched the Late Late — even after he got the job as presenter. Pic: RTE
Earlier this year, Patrick had to pay a heartbreaking goodbye to his mother Mary.
Opening that year's St Patrick's Day special following his mum's passing, Patrick spoke emotionally about Mrs Kielty, who'd watched the Late Late religiously throughout her life — joking 'she still kept watching even after I got the gig.'
'In over 50 years, Mary never missed a Late Late show, and there was no way she'd want me to miss this one for her tonight,' Patrick said as he teared up. 'And so I couldn't be prouder to stand here and say, This one's for you, Mary.' Pic: Late Late Show/X
Doireann Garrihy shocked the nation when she departed the 2FM Breakfast show last May… and shocked the nation again six months later, when she announced that she was back on the airwaves in an afternoon slot.
Speaking on her decision to leave and then come back, Doireann told Patrick that she wasn't surprised at the backlash given that she was one of several hosts that left the station; saying 'The timing was strange, because obviously I kind of said I was leaving, and then a number of different presenters left. So it was a weird time. I wasn't surprised.
'I wasn't surprised by that at all. Of course, it was a strange time.' Pic: The Late Late Show/X
Well before he was telling people to follow him because he was delicious and performing his music for thousands of people, Garron Noone suffered from agoraphobia — something, he said, left him housebound for about five years.
'[It] eventually got to the point where I couldn't leave the house without having a panic attack, so I spent about five years completely housebound,' Garron said. 'I couldn't go to the shop, I worked at a phone shop – I could go there and have panic attacks at work, but I did nothing else. No social life, no nothing.'
TikTok and his social media presence helped tremendously, however; with Garron saying 'I found I couldn't find people to relate to, so I'd like to put it out there just — if you're having this experience, it is something you can get through. Things can get better. It takes time, but it's definitely gotten better for me for sure.'
Following the release of her father's killers Molly and Tom Martens, Sarah Corbett Lynch bravely spoke about the night her father died, including how she was coerced by Molly Martens to create falsehoods around her father's treatment of her and her brother Jack.
'I lied for Molly… it was because I loved her, and someone I loved and trusted was telling me to lie about someone else that I loved and trusted, calling it the truth,' Sarah said. 'We had to come to terms with the fact that words we said are a part of the reason why the Martens are walking free today,' Sarah added. 'But it also gave me the realisation that I was looking at it through the eyes that I am now, and thinking 'how can I say those things?'
'I think looking at it in the courtroom, I was so young and so scared, and I knew I had to go home with Molly after that. My dad was gone, and I had to live with the Martens. I did what I had to do because I was scared.'
The season finale of the Late Late Show will take place on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player this Friday (May 9) at 9.35pm.
