Six moments from Patrick Kielty’s first Late Late Toy Show we’re still talking about
Sophie made it to the Toy Show
It’s a delicate balance to address horrible news on a show designed around children, while surrounded by children and speaking to an audience made up largely of children. However, Patrick Kielty proved his chops with the considerate and touching manner in which he acknowledged where the minds of the adults of Ireland likely were on Friday night.
Speaking at the beginning of the show, he discretely referred to the events that unfolded in Dublin on Thursday.
“Given the events of the last 24 hours, it is important to remember what this time of year is all about. That is holding your kids tight this Christmas. We are thinking of every family who needs an extra hug tonight,” he told viewers at home, a note of emotion present in his voice.
It was a considerate handling of the situation, — it would have been unusual to not mention it yet uncomfortable if he had gone into too much detail with so many young viewers on the night. Kielty was mature and respectful and the night’s proceedings could then descend into fun and games without jarring.
There were so many stand-out personalities and talents during this year’s Toy Show, but the child who had everyone talking was Sheamie Garrihy from Co Clare. He captured our attention with his statement mullet hairstyle and held it with his wit and charm.
From his uncle’s occasional skipping of work to build Lego, to From the get-go, Sheamie from Kilfenora was cracking jokes like an auld fella. “I bet you didn’t think you had something in common with a seven-year-old from the country in Clare,” he said to Kielty upon his arrival in the studio. “And what do we have in common?” the host asked. “That it’s both our first toy Show, Patrick,” he said with a nod of the head, causing the comedian to laugh.
All the family secrets were laid bare. Granny was accused of only letting him borrow her Lego when he was bringing it “up to the Big Smokes” before he revealed the extent of his uncle’s commitment to the brick life.
“My uncle had to take a Lego day off work,” he said, though he refused to say where he worked. “I don’t want to be getting him in trouble.” When he was quizzed further he quietly admitted the uncle took “two days off”. Sheamie added: “I had to take one day off myself for school.” He describes one sister as “a drama queen” and says his youngest is starting to be trouble. “With the baby, the trouble’s only starting.”
Straight to the Toy Show Hall of Fame for Sheamie, and we look forward to hearing about his pint with Paddy in approximately 11 years.
After Stevie Mulrooney put Kielty through the paces at hurling, he embraced another of his sporting loves: rugby. With his hand firmly over his heart, Stevie led the audience in a rendition of Ireland’s Call. However, while he was singing, two of his heroes quietly appeared beside him. Peter O’Mahony and Bundee Aki took their places shoulder-to-shoulder with Stevie and when the boy turned and realised who was there, he audibly gasped mid-song and his face lit up.
“It’s the best day of my life,” the overwhelmed youngster told the host. He agreed it was a dream come true and said he watched the Rugby World Cup, adding the two men “played great in it. Great job.” Aki presented Stevie with a signed Irish jersey before Kielty told him the IRFU had given tickets for him and his family to see Ireland play Italy next year in the Six Nations.
Kielty has made no secret of the fact that he loves squeezing in among the audience members and having a chat, and the Toy Show was no different. While giving away a prize on the night he struck up a conversation with Carol O'Brien from Navan, who was at the show with her daughter.
He surprised her with a video message from her other daughter Joanne, who lives in Australia with her husband Richard and children Eva and Ben. Carol hadn't seen them in six years and was touched by the message.
However, the shock didn’t end there. Carol got the biggest surprise when Joanne and her family walked out from behind a Christmas tree, having been flown home from Oz by the Toy Show. It was a moment to reach for the tissues.
Eight-year-old Sophie from Tipperary got the surprise of a lifetime at a Toy Show viewing party when Kielty went live to tell her a magic bus would bring her to the Toy Show studio.
Sophie had auditioned for the Toy Show but was in hospital a lot so her dream to be on the Toy Show was made more difficult. Kiely invited her to be a VIP special guest on the Toy Show and she made the journey across Dublin to join them.
Upon her arrival on set, Kielty showed her some toys and then opened a suitcase with her, packed with Disney dolls and a pair of Minnie Mouse ears.
The host then revealed she was going to Disney World in Florida with her family (and her stuffed unicorn could join them). Kielty was barely holding back tears sharing the news and there were surely plenty of sniffles across the country at that one.
Ahead of the Toy Show, many people were wondering how Kielty would fare and, as it happens, he did a great job hosting what is surely the show any new host would most worry about. Viewers shared their thoughts on social media and heaped praise upon the presenter for allowing the children to be the focus of the show.
“Solid toy show tonight, Patrick Kielty absolutely smashed it,” comedian Michael Fry wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Dr. Eddie Murphy from Operation Transformation commended Kielty for a “brilliant job, you nearly went there on the gift to Sophie we could see why, and we shed the tear”.
One person on X said it was the “best toy show in years” while another said it was the “best thing I’ve watched on TV in a very long time. The children were a shining light in such dark times.”
