Northern Ireland

Patrick Kielty stunned by surprise reunion with minor All-Ireland winning teammates on Late Late Show

The Dundrum-born host was a substitute goalkeeper for the team which won the All-Ireland minor final in 1987

Patrick Kielty
Patrick Kielty and his former minor All-Ireland winning teammates from Co Down. PICTURE: RTÉ
By Suzanne McGonagle

Patrick Kielty was left shocked and emotional during The Late Late Show’s GAA special on Friday when his former minor All-Ireland winning teammates from Co Down joined him on stage.

The Dundrum-born host, who was a substitute goalkeeper for the team which won the All-Ireland minor final in 1987, had no idea the former players were due to appear on the show.

Bringing in the Sam Maguire Cup, the team included Kielty’s own brother John.

“I’ve been told there is a change of plans, this is not in the script,” the stunned presenter said.

“I knew something was up and didn’t know what was up.

“This is a surprise, it says read the autocue Paddy, that’s what they are telling me to do.

Co Down-born presenter Patrick Kielty. Picture by RTE/PA
Co Down-born presenter Patrick Kielty. Picture by RTE/PA

“You may have heard me mention at least five times tonight, I do have an All-Ireland medal, yes I was a sub-goalie on the glorious All-Ireland Football Championship-winning Down minor team of 1987 and some of that team are here tonight.”

Kielty added: “I can’t believe you got me”.

The 53-year-old host became even more emotional when the team spoke about how proud Kielty’s late father Jack was the year they won the All-Ireland.

“We were all talking earlier,” one of the men said.

“We remembered the first person all of us saw when we came off the pitch that day in the tunnel was big Jack from a seat in the Hogan stand.

“Tears of joy tripping him, he was the happiest man in Ireland and he told each and every one of us how proud he was of all of us – not just you two boys – but the whole lot.

“So we’ll have a brandy for Jack later on tonight.”

Kielty was just 16 when his father Jack (45) was murdered by loyalist paramilitaries in 1988.

Closing the show, he said: “I have to say, he (Jack) might have been the proudest man in Ireland, but I’m the proudest man in Ireland to be here tonight on this stage with you guys.

“Thank you so much for coming in.”