'The Late Late Toy Show' airs tonight. In a world of darkness, it is one of the last beacons of pure televisual joy.
This will be Patrick Kielty's second year presenting the programme, after a successful maiden voyage.
As the Late Late Toy Show has had its stride as a cultural phenomenon over the last decade, it has often been the interaction between children and sports stars that have been most moving. It's so easy to be cynical about the world of sport, but to see the awe that children experience in the presence of their sporting heroes is to remember why so many of us fell in love with sport in first place.
Here are some of the best Late Late Toy Show appearances from Irish sports stars in recent years. We're looking forward to a few more surprises this evening.
Late Late Toy Show's Best Sporting Moments
Bundee Aki and Peter O'Mahony meet Stevie
The year: 2023
The set up: Stevie from Carlow is delivering a truly memorable rendition of Ireland's Call. Little does he know that two of Ireland's 2023 Rugby World Cup stars Bundee Aki and Peter O'Mahony are back stage.
Why we love this: The legend that is Stevie. We've never heard Ireland's Call delivered so passionately before. Stevie's talents were plain to see and he's since performed Ireland's Call ahead of Men's and Women's Six Nations games.
Sports mad Stevie treated us to a rousing and very proud rendition of Ireland's Call and as he neared the end of the song he was joined by Irish rugby legends Bundee Aki and Peter O'Mahony #ToyShow #LateLateToyShow #PatrickKielty | https://t.co/2dlRQn5bPe pic.twitter.com/SloF7lWY4l
— Entertainment on RTÉ (@RTE_Ents) November 24, 2023
Robbie Keane meets Domhnall
The year: 2013
The set up: Domhnall, the world's biggest Robbie Keane fan, is playing a game of FIFA13, discussing his favourite footballer. Little does he know that the LA Galaxy striker is backstage.
Why we love this: Domhnall is an absolute star. He shows great knowledge of Robbie's injury history and the intricacies of his cartwheel goal celebration. And Robbie is in excellent form despite being on crutches.
Domhnall also correctly predicts that Ireland will qualify for Euro 2016, so that's wonderful. Domhnall's appearance went so well, he would made a cameo on the LLS the week after.
Rory McIlroy meets Charlie
The year: 2016
The set up: 9-year-old Charlie is an aspiring golfer who knows everything about Rory McIlroy's career. Little does he know that Rory McIlroy is backstage.
Why we love this: Charlie's knowledge of Rory's career is incredible and we love how starstruck he is in McIlroy's presence. Charlie also forces McIlroy into interesting admission about the shortcomings in his own game.
READ HERE: Michael Jordan Called Over To Rory McIlroy And Shane Lowry's Ryder Cup Rollover
The Ireland WNT wish Emmie happy birthday
Up and coming comedy star and @FAIWomen's fan Emmie O'Neill is off to Oz for a training session with her heroes. 🥲🇮🇪#LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/rlY3uGdbII
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 26, 2022
The year: 2022
The premise: Members of the Ireland women's football team surprise young fan Emmie with a special birthday present
Why we love it: Last winter was a memorable time for the Irish women's team, who qualified for the World Cup for the first time ever. Little over a month over the play-off win over Scotland, captain Katie McCabe and an entourage including Áine O'Gorman, Jamie Finn, Louise Quinn, and Lucy Quinn surprised superfan Emmie for a special birthday to remember on the Late Late Toy Show.
Not only that, but they revealed that they would be bringing her down under for the tournament in Australia in the summer of 2023. A truly special moment.
Davy Fitz meets Michael
The year: 2018
The set up: Michael O'Brien is discussing his favourite manager in the GAA, Davy Fitzgerald. Little does he know that Davy Fitz is secretly backstage.
Why we love it: This is just everything. Michael is some man, a young lad with serious auld lad energy. He asks Davy the perfect question. 'Where do you get your passion?'
Michael's hunger for Davy autographs is also commendable. Strike while the iron's hot!
The lads would go on to make a pretty special programme for RTÉ.
Katie Taylor meets Ella
The year: 2019
The set-up: Ella Thompson, a talented young boxer from Dunboyne, is on stage discussing her passion for boxing. Little does she know that Ireland's greatest boxer Katie Taylor is secretly backstage.
Why we love it: This was incredible television. All of these clips are heartwarming but this is really special because of Ella's own boxing ability. Katie puts on the boxing pads and Ella throws punches bareknuckle and some of the greatest television Ireland has ever produced takes place.
Caoimhín Kelleher surprises Cealan
Cealan Green got the surprise of his life when Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher popped by to give him a very special gift | Read more: https://t.co/zfZy2luAy6 pic.twitter.com/GnNcpEtNOg
— Entertainment on RTÉ (@RTE_Ents) November 25, 2022
The year: 2022
The premise: Young Liverpool fanatic Cealan is invited to test his blindfolded penalty-taking against Ryan Tubridy - but he is about to be surprised when he removes his blindfold and sees Liverpool and Ireland goalie Caoimhín Kelleher in front of him instead.
Why we love it: Is this the best executed surprise appearance on the Late Late Toy Show? It's certainly up there. Even the manner in which Tubridy tries to disguise the direction his voice is coming from to hide the surprise a little bit longer is golden. Plus, Caoimhín seems like an absolutely dead-on guy. Kelleher asked Cealan "are you okay?" is a touching moment.
Shane Lowry meets Ella
The year: 2019
The set up: Ella is an aspiring golf prodigy and her favourite golfer is Shane Lowry. Little does she know backstage at the Late Late Toy Show is Shane Lowry.
Why we love this: Ella had put on an excellent chipping display before Lowry's arrival that's not in this clip. She's absolutely stunned to meet Lowry, who'd only won the Open a few months previous. It's also a class gesture from Lowry to bring the flag from the 18th at Portrush.
Kellie Harrington's Toy Show dream comes true
The new pals practising a little shadow boxing backstage 🥊#latelatetoyshow | @latelaterte | @Kelly64kg pic.twitter.com/ieHdR67Oqg
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) November 26, 2021
The year: 2021
The premise: Recently-crowned Olympic champion Kellie Harrington surprises two young Dublin boxers
Why we love it: This is the rare occasion where the guest themselves seems to get just as much of a kick out of their appearance as the kids they're surprising. Harrington revealed she has been on the hunt for a Toy Show ticket for years, before joking that she had to win an Olympic medal just to get to the show. There's also an amazing moment where Darcy - one of the young boxers Harrington surprises - asks if Harrington knows her sister, an up-and-coming fighter in Dublin. In typical Irish fashion, the answer was of course 'yes.'
Jamie Heaslip meets Evan
The year: 2017
The set up: Evan is a huge rugby fan. Little does he know that Jamie Heaslip is backstage waiting to meet him.
Why we love this: Evan is just brilliant interacting with Heaslip.
The unexpected discussion on Jamie Heaslip's handsomeness is also pretty great.
The Galway hurlers meet Daniel
The year: 2017
The set up: Daniel is a massive Galway hurling fan. Little does he know that backstage at Late Late Toy Show are five members of the Galway team are backstage with Liam MacCarthy.
Why we love this: The look of joy on Daniel's face when he lifts Liam MacCarthy as if he was up the Hogan Stand steps.
SEE ALSO: Jason McAteer Escalates Roy Keane Feud With Remarkable TV Rant
