Joe Brolly has made quite the name for himself as a divisive figure in the world of GAA punditry in recent years.
The 1993 All-Ireland winner was known for an outspoken remark or ten during his time at RTÉ, with infamous rants about the like of Sean Cavanagh leading to a polarised reaction from viewers of The Sunday Game.
Despite this, Brolly has also earned a reputation for being a charitable man on the right side of many issues away from sport, endearing him to many of the Irish public.
Judging by his latest hilarious story on his podcast Free State with Dion Fanning, however, there are still many in the community who have it in for Joe Brolly - even "men of the cloth."
Joe Brolly remembers cutting remark from Dublin priest
The podcast Free State with Joe Brolly & Dion Fanning has given us some brilliant soundbites and anecdotes since its recent launch, but the latest from Brolly is easily the best yet.
In a brilliant story, brilliantly told, Brolly recounts an unexpectedly profane encounter with a priest on the streets of Dublin.
Joe's Larry David moment. You won't believe what happened next... 🤣 Full story on the podcast!
Free State Episode 6: Curb Your Enthusiasm Father pic.twitter.com/iCNqSltQ5Z— Free State with Joe Brolly & Dion Fanning (@freestateirl) May 2, 2023
Brolly revealed that, while strolling absent mindedly through the city, he passed by a priest. Brolly said that he would normally take the time to greet a priest if he ran into one on the street - but was given a rude awakening when he heard the clergyman mention Brolly before he reached him:
I was walking [through Dublin] in a world of my own. Walking down O'Connell St and across, towards Harcourt St.
I see a priest - a relatively young priest - walking towards me, wearing earphones. I could see that he was talking, so I assumed he was on the phone. I would normally say hello to a priest, or beckon.
As he's walking past me, he says out loud: 'there's that c*** Joe Brolly!'
This woman who was walking along beside me looks at me and I look at her like 'what the fuck?!' We both burst out laughing.
It was just so bizarre from a man of the cloth! I got myself together and strolled on and spent the rest of the evening smiling.
It's a hilarious story, and as can be seen from the clip above it had both Brolly and Fanning in fits of laughter.
Incredibly, while sitting outside a Dublin café the very next day, Brolly happened to spot the same priest walking by - and took the opportunity to jokingly press him on his comments the previous day.
Who do I spy but the priest? The "c***" priest!
So I make a beline for him across the street. He's wearing the same headphones, you can see him thinking, 'oh, fuck!'
I said, 'Father, how are you?' I put my hand on him and said, 'I couldn't help but overhear you yesterday, calling me a c***!'
He said, 'oh, Jesus, I didn't mean that at all?' So I said, 'well what did you mean by it Father?'
He said, 'it was a term of endearment!' I said to him, 'it's a very unusual term of endearment Father, what do you mean by that?' You could see him thinking, 'oh, fuck...'
Never change, Joe.
The full podcast with Brolly and Fanning is, as always, worth a listen, and can be found on Spotify here.
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