The 46th season of The Late Late Show

The Late Late Show

The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...

, the world's longest-running chat show

Talk show

A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....

, began on 5 September 2008. It aired on RTÉ One

RTÉ One

RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...

 each Friday evening from 21:30. The series marked the first occasion on which regular host Pat Kenny

Pat Kenny

Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...

 was absent, following the unexpected death of his mother. Gerry Ryan

Gerry Ryan

Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...

 guest-hosted the 24 October edition of the show in Kenny's absence. Before the season began Kenny had been reluctant to sign up for the show again. Before long the series was generating substantial media coverage for topics such as phone-in competitions, controversial performances and awkward interviews. Guests thus far have included the Taoiseach

Taoiseach

The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

 Brian Cowen

Brian Cowen

Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...

, the environmental activist Erin Brockovich

Erin Brockovich

Erin Brockovich-Ellis is an American legal clerk and environmental activist who, despite the lack of a formal law school education, or any legal education, was instrumental in constructing a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California in 1993...

, the comedian Tom O'Connor (making his fourteenth appearance), Libertas

Libertas

Libertas was the Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty.- Temples and derived inspirations :In 238 BC, before the Second Punic War, having long been a Roman deity along with other personified virtues, Libertas assumed goddess status...

 founder Declan Ganley

Declan Ganley

Declan James Ganley is a British-born Irish citizen, entrepreneur, businessman and political activist. He is founder and chairman of a political party, Libertas with pan-European ambitions...

, Lindsay Wagner

Lindsay Wagner

Lindsay Jean Wagner is an American actress. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Jaime Sommers in the 1970s television series The Bionic Woman , though she has maintained a lengthy career in a variety of other film and television productions since.-Early life:Wagner was born in Los...

 (on her first visit to Ireland) In February 2009, Kenny was widely criticised by the Irish media for his attempted interview of the English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 rock musician Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty

Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...

. Other musical guests include Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli, is an Italian tenor, multi-instrumentalist and classical crossover artist. Born with poor eyesight, he became blind at the age of twelve following a soccer accident....

, Carosel and Roy Keane

Roy Keane

Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....

. It was Pat Kenny's final season as host after he announced his decision to quit live on air on 27 March 2009.

Notable incidents

Austrian family holiday incident

In the first of a number of incidents related to phone-in competitions, on 12 September 2008, Kenny attempted to give away an Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

n family holiday to a viewer. Encountering an unenthusiastic response from the winner, and aided by a joke from the comedian Jimmy Carr

Jimmy Carr

James Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television....

 which referred to the timing of the prize with the revelations contained in the Fritzl case

Fritzl case

The Fritzl case emerged in April 2008 when a 42-year-old woman, Elisabeth Fritzl , stated to police in the town of Amstetten, Austria, that she had been held captive for 24 years in a concealed corridor part of the basement area of the family home, a condominium-style apartment complex built by her...

, the presenter then broke down in a fit of laughter live on air. The humorous incident has since achieved cult status on YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

 and other sites.

The Gerry Ryan Show

The Gerry Ryan edition featured a guest appearance by the controversial stand-up comedian Tommy Tiernan

Tommy Tiernan

Tommy Tiernan is an Irish comedian, actor and writer. He and Hector Ó hEochagáin present The Tommy and Hector Show on i102-104FM. Tiernan also featured in Father Ted.-Early life:...

. The comedian was making the latest in a series of appearances on the show which have provoked debate and given cause for complaint. On the show Tiernan made reference to a man left severely disabled by a motorcycle accident and spoke a joke involving an act of sexual intercourse with a Traveller

Irish Traveller

Irish Travellers are a traditionally nomadic people of ethnic Irish origin, who maintain a separate language and set of traditions. They live predominantly in the Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.-Etymology:...

. A number of viewers, including the mother of a boy with Down syndrome

Down syndrome

Down syndrome, or Down's syndrome, trisomy 21, is a chromosomal condition caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British physician who described the syndrome in 1866. The condition was clinically described earlier in the 19th...

 and a road crash victim, took offence to Tiernan's joke about a disabled man in Saint Michael's Rehabilitation Hospital, Dún Laoghaire

Dún Laoghaire

Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...

, from whom the comedian was attempting to purchase a motorbike. Tiernan's punchline was that the man could not accept his payment as he had no grip. There were complaints over the comedian's acting “spasticated” and in a “mocking fashion which can only be described as grossly insulting”. The Traveller support organisation, Pavee Point

Pavee Point

Pavee Point is a government-funded non-governmental organization based in Dublin, Ireland that was formed to improve the human rights of Irish Travellers and to bridge the economic and social inequalities between Travellers and settled people...

 took offence at Tiernan’s remarks about having sex with a Traveller, accusing him of acting "in a disgusting, outrageous and racist way" and criticising him for suggesting that Travellers were in some way "unclean, possibly stupid and sexually promiscuous". RTÉ defended its guest by stating that Tiernan's Irish humour was a celebration of the diversity of modern Ireland, the practice of "insulting people in a humorous way". The Broadcasting Complaints Commission (BCC) upheld eight "derogatory" and "totally inappropriate" complaints against the show and criticised Ryan for "actively engaging" and "egging on" the comedian.

Satanic Sluts

A Late Late appearance by the dance troupe, Satanic Sluts on 21 November 2008 led to what an RTÉ spokesperson described as a significant number of complaints by viewers. The group became known in the neighbouring country of the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 following a controversial incident involving telephone calls

Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row

The Russell Brand Show prank telephone calls row concerned a series of voice messages that English entertainers Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross left on the answering machine of actor Andrew Sachs, which were labelled obscene by many media commentators and politicians...

 made by two previously highly-regarded BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

 broadcasters later punished for their actions. One of the group's performers was Georgina Baillie who had recently been on the receiving end of the vicious telephone messages which were broadcast on national radio in her country. Baillie was interviewed by Pat Kenny, speaking of her disgust at the prank calls and the effect they had on her grandfather, the Fawlty Towers

Fawlty Towers

Fawlty Towers is a British sitcom produced by BBC Television and first broadcast on BBC2 in 1975. Twelve television program episodes were produced . The show was written by John Cleese and his then wife Connie Booth, both of whom played major characters...

 actor Andrew Sachs

Andrew Sachs

Andrew Sachs is a German-born British actor. He made his name on British television and is best known for his portrayals of Manuel in Fawlty Towers, a role for which he was BAFTA-nominated, and Ramsay Clegg in Coronation Street.-Early life:Sachs was born in Berlin, Germany, the son of Katharina , a...

. She then took part in a risque performance entitled the "Robot Routine" with the other two girls which provoked the complaints.

Toy Show ticket tearing incident

At the end of the show featuring the Satanic Sluts, Kenny became involved in a hostile incident with a viewer in a phone-in competition. Barbara Heavey from Cork

Cork (city)

Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...

 was proclaimed the winner of a prize consisting of two tickets for The Late Late Toy Show

The Late Late Toy Show

The Late Late Toy Show—also known as The Toy Show— is an annual iconic and influential Irish institution, an edition of the world's longest-running chat show, The Late Late Show broadcast on RTÉ One in Ireland each Friday evening. The Toy Show, as it is referred to, is broadcast in late...

 (taking place the following week), as well as a €10,000 cash prize. When Kenny rang Heavey live on air she stated that she was not particularly interested in the tickets but would accept the cash prize. Kenny vented his frustration by tearing up two tickets. He asked why she had bothered to enter the competition if she was not available to attend the event to which she replied her entry had been "out of boredom". Heavey later suggested Kenny was ungracious and reiterated her lack of interest in watching children "play with toys for two hours", adding that she has no children of her own. Despite numerous attempts by RTÉ to have her attend the Toy Show, she said she would be "bored stiff", wasn't interested in toys and, if she had to attend the show, would probably "set off the smoke alarms by chain-smoking in the toilets". Kenny did not let the matter rest however, opening his morning radio show the following Monday with a five minute chat to his listeners in which he implied that the torn-up tickets were of more value than All Ireland

All Ireland

All-Ireland is an attributive which emphasises the island of Ireland. It contrasts with expressions such as the South or Northern Ireland which apply only to regions. Many sports are organised on an all-Ireland basis....

 Final and Munster v. All Blacks tickets. Within minutes footage was uploaded onto the video hosting website YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

, with spoofs of the incident also created. and Heavey was congratulated in numerous national newspapers.

Kenny's "news"

Pat Kenny unexpectedly announced his resignation as host live on air on 27 March 2009, saying he had discussed the decision with his family and that "all good things must come to an end".

Mr and Mrs. Paisley

On 30 January 2009, Ian Paisley

Ian Paisley

Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...

 and his wife Eileen appeared on The Late Late Show to discuss his teetotalism

Teetotalism

Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...

 and his refusal to go to the cinema unless the film was about Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell

Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....

.

Cathal Ó Searcaigh

On 6 February 2009, the controversial poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh

Cathal Ó Searcaigh

Cathal Ó Searcaigh is an Irish poet who writes in the Irish language .Ó Searcaigh was born in Gort a' Choirce, a town in the Gaeltacht region of Donegal, and lives at the foot of Mount Errigal...

 was due to appear on The Late Late Show. However he cancelled the appearance when RTÉ's legal advisors recommended the interview be pre-recorded instead of the usual live interviews that are carried out. Ó Searcaigh had previously declined to be interviewed on The Late Late Show in March 2008. Presenter Pat Kenny stated on the live broadcast that the invitation still stood despite the poet turning down the invitation twice. It was speculated that English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 musician Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty

Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...

 had been drafted in as a replacement; this interview proved just as controversial.

Pete Doherty

Also on 6 February in the opening segment of the show and in what the Irish Independent

Irish Independent

The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...

 referred to as "TV gold" and The Irish Times

The Irish Times

The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...

 dubbed "car-crash television", Pat Kenny tried to interview the English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 musician Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty

Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...

. When a young female audience member loudly professed her love for Doherty and shouted how she had waited outside Trinity for four hours to catch a glimpse of him, Kenny responded by saying: "You have at least one fan in the audience." The Babyshambles

Babyshambles

Babyshambles are an English indie rock band established in London. The band was formed by Pete Doherty during a hiatus from his former band The Libertines, but Babyshambles has since become his main project . Babyshambles has released two albums, three EPs and a number of singles...

 singer was dissatisfied with Kenny's repeated questioning of his drug abuse and love life and became incensed with a difficult comparison between him and Shane MacGowan

Shane MacGowan

Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan is an Irish musician and singer, best known as the original singer and songwriter of The Pogues.-History:...

 before asking the presenter: "I don't know if you could name a song that I've written?", only to receive the reply: "No, possibly not." Doherty went on to ask why "this [the drugs issue] has to be the be all and end all of how you look at someone and judge someone", and having counted Kenny's questions informed him that "the last 12 questions you've asked me have been about drugs". In protest at Kenny's apparent lack of knowledge on his subject matter, Doherty pulled his hat over his eyes and refused to engage any further in the conversation. Kenny managed to resolve the situation by inviting Doherty to play a song for the audience (an acoustic cover of a song from his upcoming solo album.) Doherty had been in Ireland to attend Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin

Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...

 where he was made an Honorary Patron of the student Philosophical Society at the university earlier that day.

John McGuinness

When TD

Teachta Dála

A Teachta Dála , usually abbreviated as TD in English, is a member of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas . It is the equivalent of terms such as "Member of Parliament" or "deputy" used in other states. The official translation of the term is "Deputy to the Dáil", though a more literal...

 John J. McGuinness

John J. McGuinness

John J. McGuinness is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician. He has been a Teachta Dála for the Carlow–Kilkenny constituency since 1997...

 appeared on The Late Late Show on 24 April 2009, he criticised Ireland's Tánaiste

Tánaiste

The Tánaiste is the deputy prime minister of Ireland. The current Tánaiste is Eamon Gilmore, TD who was appointed on 9 March 2011.- Origins and etymology :...

 Mary Coughlan for her part in his not being reappointed as a Minister of State

Minister of State (Ireland)

A Minister of State in Ireland is of non-Cabinet rank, attached to one or more Departments of State of the Government of Ireland....

. Taoiseach

Taoiseach

The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...

 Brian Cowen

Brian Cowen

Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...

 had earlier asked all the Ministers of State to resign, with a smaller number to be reappointed as part of the government's emergency budget

Irish emergency budget, 2009

The 2009 Irish emergency budget refers to the delivery of an emergency government budget by the Government of Ireland on 7 April 2009, its second in six months. It was also the second overall budget to be delivered by the ruling Fianna Fáil party's Brian Lenihan as the country's Minister for Finance...

. Cowen later denied claims that Coughlan had "issued an ultimatium that if Mr McGuinness did not go, she would".

Roy Keane

Roy Keane

Roy Keane

Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....

's interview for The Late Late Show was broadcast on 1 May 2009. He spoke of his managerial role at Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town F.C.

Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....

, Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, OIH, , commonly known as Cristiano Ronaldo, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger or striker for Spanish La Liga club Real Madrid and is the captain of the Portuguese national team...

, Eamon Dunphy

Eamon Dunphy

Eamon Martin Dunphy is an Irish media personality, radio and television presenter, author, sports pundit, as well as a former professional football player. He is best known as a soccer analyst on Raidió Teilifís Éireann 's coverage of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He was paid...

 and said he had "very little interest in what happens at United

Manchester United F.C.

Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

". Keane also revealed that he spoke no more with his former manager Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson

Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...

, saying they had a "disagreement".

Eamon Dunphy's tears

Broadcaster Eamon Dunphy

Eamon Dunphy

Eamon Martin Dunphy is an Irish media personality, radio and television presenter, author, sports pundit, as well as a former professional football player. He is best known as a soccer analyst on Raidió Teilifís Éireann 's coverage of the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He was paid...

's teary-eyed interview with Pat Kenny on 6 February 2009, which took place in a slot where he discussed the state of the nation alongside Senator Eoghan Harris

Eoghan Harris

Eoghan Harris is an Irish journalist, fiction writer, director, columnist and politician. He currently writes for the Sunday Independent. He was a member of Seanad Éireann from 2007–11, having been nominated by the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern....

 and journalist John Waters, proved to be a talking point amongst the Irish media and general public. The Evening Herald

Evening Herald

The Evening Herald is a mid-market tabloid evening newspaper published in Dublin, Ireland by Independent News & Media. It is published Monday-Saturday, and has three editions — City Edition, City Final Edition and National Edition...

 remarked on the difference between this and Dunphy's previous references to Kenny as a "plank". It also conducted a survey amongst people in Dublin which found that the public overwhelmingly supported Dunphy, who had burst into tears when describing how as a child his father had returned home one day to inform him that he had lost his job and that some of his friends were now having difficulty retaining their houses. The incident happened at the end of an eventful edition of the chat show, which also saw a cancelled interview with controversial poet Cathal Ó Searcaigh

Cathal Ó Searcaigh

Cathal Ó Searcaigh is an Irish poet who writes in the Irish language .Ó Searcaigh was born in Gort a' Choirce, a town in the Gaeltacht region of Donegal, and lives at the foot of Mount Errigal...

 and Kenny's infamous interview with Ó Searcaigh's replacement, the musician Pete Doherty

Pete Doherty

Peter Doherty is an English musician, writer, actor, poet and artist. He is best known musically for being co-frontman of The Libertines, which he reformed with Carl Barât in 2010. His other musical project is indie band Babyshambles...

.

Abolition of Seanad Éireann

On 20 March 2009, a number of senators appeared on the show to debate on a proposal to abolish Seanad Éireann

Seanad Éireann

Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...

. Journalists John Drennan and Ian O'Doherty

Ian O'Doherty

Ian O'Doherty is a columnist who works for the Irish Independent. His "iSpy" column is published Monday – Thursday and contains news articles blended with comedy and opinion. On Fridays O'Doherty publishes a rather more serious column containing his opinion on a chosen subject in "The World...

 also spoke. It was the first time such a large amount of senators had appeared on television together.

The Troublemakers

On 22 May 2009, "Trouble with a Capital T" was performed by The Troublemakers, a group of Irish musicians which included members of The Blizzards

The Blizzards

The Blizzards are an Irish band from Mullingar in County Westmeath. They were formed by Niall Breslin in late 2004, and also feature Dec Murphy , Justin Ryan, Anthony Doran and Aidan Lynch...

, Republic of Loose

Republic of Loose

Republic of Loose are an Irish funk rock band from Dublin. Formed in 2001, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Mick Pyro, bass guitarist and vocalist Benjamin Loose, keyboardist Darragh, guitarists and vocalists Dave Pyro and Darach O' Laoire and drummers and percussionists Andre Lopes...

, Brian Hogan

Brian Hogan

Brian Hogan is an Irish hurler who currently plays as a centre-back for the Kilkenny senior team.Hogan made his first appearance for the team during the 2004 championship and has become a regular player over the last few seasons. During that time he has won four All-Ireland winner's medals, four...

, Kevin Godley

Kevin Godley

Kevin Godley is a British musician and music video director.He was born in a family of Jewish descent, and went to North Cestrian Grammar School in Altrincham....

 and some former members of The Horslips, who are the original performers of the song, which came together to release a charity single.

The Late Late Toy Show

The 2008 Toy Show aired on 28 November 2008.

Tribute shows

• Boyzone
  Boyzone
  Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...
  
  
• Joe Dolan
  Joe Dolan
  Joseph "Joe" Francis Robert Dolan was an Irish entertainer, recorder and singer of easy listening songs...
  
  
• GAA 125
  Gaelic Athletic Association
  The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
  
  

The Late Late Show Eurosong Special 2009

The Eurosong Final

Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009

Ireland competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia. The country was represented by Sinéad Mulvey & Black Daisy with their song "Et Cetera".-Eurosong 2009:...

 was held on The Late Late Show on 20 February 2009. Six acts performed live on the show after which the public and a panel of four juries in Cork

Cork (city)

Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...

, Limerick

Limerick

Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...

, Sligo

Sligo

Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...

 and Dublin chose the country's representative for the contest. The studio's expert panel featured Jerry Springer

Jerry Springer

Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...

, Linda Martin

Linda Martin

Linda Martin is an Irish singer and television presenter. She is best known in Europe as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1992, with the song "Why Me?", and in Ireland as a member of the 1970s/1980s band, Chips.-Chips:Martin started off her musical career when she joined the band Chips...

 and Marty Whelan

Marty Whelan

Martin 'Marty' Whelan is a Jacob's Award-winning Irish radio and television personality currently working for Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Frequently seen and heard on RTÉ radio and television, he has presented a variety of shows...

. There were allegations of rule-breaking prior to the show when one entry was posted on YouTube

YouTube

YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....

. RTÉ prefers that none of the songs are made public until it says so, and the offending song was quickly removed from the site. The winning song was "Et Cetera

Et Cetera (song)

"Et Cetera" is a song by Irish singer Sinéad Mulvey and rock band Black Daisy that represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia...

", performed by Sinéad Mulvey

Sinéad Mulvey

Sinéad Mulvey is an Irishprofessional singer & air hostess who, alongside Black Daisy, represented her country at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the pop-rock song "Et Cetera"...

 and Black Daisy

Black Daisy

Black Daisy was an Irish band that, along with Sinéad Mulvey represented Ireland at the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 with the song Et Cetera.- Biography :...

.

Episode list

Date	Guests	Interviews	Music/performances		Notes
5 September 2008		Olympic Boxing Medalists Ireland at the 2008 Summer Olympics Ireland competed in the 2008 Summer Olympics, held in Beijing, China. It was the 19th Summer Games that Ireland has contested as a nation under the Olympic Council of Ireland.-Medalists:- Athletics:...   Kenny Egan, Darren Sutherland Darren Sutherland Darren John Sutherland was an Irish professional boxer from County Meath, Ireland. His amateur career was crowned by a bronze medal for Ireland in the middleweight division at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China....  and Paddy Barnes Paddy Barnes Patrick Barnes, more commonly known as Paddy Barnes, is an Irish amateur boxer from Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.... , Brian Cowen Brian Cowen Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...   Jonathan Rhys Meyers  Colm Tóibín Colm Tóibín Colm Tóibín is a multi-award-winning Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, playwright, journalist, critic, and, most recently, poet.Tóibín is Leonard Milberg Lecturer in Irish Letters at Princeton University in New Jersey and succeeded Martin Amis as professor of creative writing at the...	Sharon Shannon Sharon Shannon Sharon Shannon is an Irish musician. She is best known for her work with the accordion and for her fiddle technique. She also plays the tin whistle and melodeon. Her 1991 album Sharon Shannon is the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released there...  and Jerry Fish Jerry Fish and the Mudbug Club An Emotional Fish is an alternative rock band from Dublin, Ireland. An Emotional Fish were formed in 1988, and consisted of Gerard Whelan , Martin Murphy , David Frew , and Enda Wyatt . Their musical influences include David Bowie, Iggy Pop, T...   Katherine Jenkins Katherine Jenkins Katherine Jenkins is a Welsh mezzo-soprano. She is a classical-popular crossover singer who performs across a spectrum of operatic arias, popular songs, musical theatre and hymns.-Early life and education:...   Riverdance Riverdance Riverdance is a theatrical show consisting of traditional Irish stepdancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while body and arms are kept largely stationary. It originated as an interval performance during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest, a moment that is still considered a significant...   Majick Macabre  The Three Waiters  (Alfredo, Scott and Jean-Marc) Tenor Michael Londra Michael Londra -Biography:At the beginning of his career, Michael Londra performed numerous roles in Ireland, including the title role in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Pish Tush in Hot Mikado, Charlie in Brigadoon, Joe in Some Like It Hot, the title role in the concert version of Martin Guerre... , Soprano Celine Byrne and The Assembled Choirs from Wexford Wexford Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...	View	An exterior performance at the Wexford Opera House
12 September 2008		Trinny and Susannah Trinny and Susannah Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine are two British fashion advisors, presenters and authors. They originally joined to write a weekly style column in The Daily Telegraph which lasted for seven years, but they are best-known for presenting the BBC television series What Not to Wear for five...   Pat Hickey Pat Hickey Patrick Joseph Hickey is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who played 10 seasons in the NHL for the New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques and St. Louis Blues.-Playing career:...   Rick Stein Rick Stein Christopher Richard "Rick" Stein OBE is an English chef, restaurateur and television presenter. He is currently the head chef and co-owner of "Rick Stein at Bannisters" at Mollymook, New South Wales, Australia, owns four restaurants in Padstow, a fish and chip shop in Falmouth, Cornwall and has...   Carol Thatcher Carol Thatcher Carol Thatcher is a British journalist, author and media personality. She is the daughter of Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, a former British Prime Minister, and Sir Denis Thatcher, Bt....   Michael Gambon Michael Gambon Sir Michael John Gambon, CBE is an Irish actor who has worked in theatre, television and film. A highly respected theatre actor, Gambon is recognised for his roles as Philip Marlowe in the BBC television serial The Singing Detective, as Jules Maigret in the 1990s ITV serial Maigret, and as... , Michael Colgan Michael Colgan (actor) Michael Colgan is a Keady, County Armagh, Northern Ireland-born actor.Born as Michael Hughes, he was educated at Saint Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, and Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he read English...  and Jimmy Carr Jimmy Carr James Anthony Patrick "Jimmy" Carr is an English-Irish comedian and humourist. He is known for his deadpan delivery and dark humour. He is also a writer, actor and presenter of radio and television....	Mick Flannery Mick Flannery Mick Flannery is an Irish singer-songwriter from Blarney, County Cork.His debut album Evening Train resulted from his time spent studying music and management at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa in Cork...   Yulia Pikhtina  Lisa Hannigan Lisa Hannigan Lisa Margaret Hannigan is an Irish singer, songwriter, and musician. For several years she was a member of Damien Rice's band before beginning her solo career in 2008. She has been the recipient of various award nominations and critical praise both in Ireland and the USA...   Jimmy Carr	View
19 September 2008		Paralympics gold medalists and performance director Paralympian A Paralympian is an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games.A Paralympic athlete has a physical disability. The disability can be amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment or cerebral palsy. An exception is the sighted guides for athletes with a visual impairment...   Jason Smyth Jason Smyth Jason Smyth is a visually impaired Irish Paralympian. His central vision is affected by Stargardt's disease. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a Mormon... , Michael McKillop Michael McKillop Michael Gerard McKillop is an Irish athlete who has a mild form of cerebral palsy.He won the 800m title at the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships, clocking just over 2:02...  and Liam Harbison Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich Erin Brockovich-Ellis is an American legal clerk and environmental activist who, despite the lack of a formal law school education, or any legal education, was instrumental in constructing a case against the Pacific Gas and Electric Company of California in 1993...   Adele King Adele King Adele King is an Irish entertainer better known as Twink from her time as a member of a group called Maxi, Dick and Twink which was a girl band in Ireland in the late 1960s and 1970s. She is Chloë Agnew's mother....   Personal financial advice Senator Shane Ross Shane Ross Shane Peter Nathaniel Ross is an independent Irish politician and Business Editor of the Sunday Independent. He was the longest-serving member of Seanad Éireann , until he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the constituency of Dublin South at the 2011 general election.-Early life and career:Born in...  and Eddie Hobbs Eddie Hobbs -Early career:Hobbs worked for Zurich Life 1979 to 1991 and left his position as Marketing Manager to set up a fee-based financial planning company TIPS. In March 1993 Hobbs published a landmark report "Endowment Mortgages The Hometruth" which collapsed sales of endowment homeloans in Ireland by... John Creedon John Creedon John Creedon, also known as "Creedo", is an Irish language enthusiast and veteran broadcaster with RTÉ Radio. Host of The John Creedon Show, evenings on RTÉ Radio 1, he has also filled in for Dave Fanning on The Dave Fanning Show....	The Script The Script (band) The Script are an Irish alternative rock band from Dublin. Based in London after signing to Sony Label Group imprint Phonogenic, the band released their eponymous debut album in August 2008...   Seán Keane Seán Keane (singer) Seán Keane is an Irish singer and musician, known for his distinctive sean-nós-style voice.-Background:Seán Keane was born in a small village called Caherlistrane near Tuam in County Galway into a musical family, including his renowned sister Dolores...   Melody Gardot Melody Gardot Melody Gardot is a Grammy-nominated American singer, writer and musician in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, though she considers herself a "citizen of the world". She has been influenced by such blues and jazz artists as Judy Garland, Janis Joplin, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Stan Getz and George...   Fashion show	View
26 September 2008		Kathryn Thomas Kathryn Thomas Kathryn Thomas is an Irish television presenter from Carlow. She does be doing the holiday programme on RTÉ. Now she does a Winning Streak every week with Marty Whelan...   Wendy Salisbury  Conor and Daragh Prendergast  Health discussion Rabbi Schmuley  Mickey Mickey Harte Michael "Mickey" Harte is the current manager of Tyrone Gaelic football team. He has led the team to three All-Ireland titles, three Ulster titles, one National League, and four Dr...  and Michaela Harte	Boyzone Boyzone Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...   The Blizzards The Blizzards The Blizzards are an Irish band from Mullingar in County Westmeath. They were formed by Niall Breslin in late 2004, and also feature Dec Murphy , Justin Ryan, Anthony Doran and Aidan Lynch...   Brendan Bowyer Brendan Bowyer Brendan Bowyer, born 12 October 1938 in Waterford, Ireland, is an Irish singer best known for fronting The Royal Showband, who had five number one hits in Ireland, and The Big Eight. He is also renowned for having The Beatles open for him at a concert in 1962 at the Liverpool Empire Theatre, and...	View
3 October 2008		Sonia O'Sullivan Sonia O'Sullivan Sonia O'Sullivan in Cobh, County Cork. She began her running career in Ballymore Running Club which is located in the eastern side of Cobh Town. She was one of the world's leading female 5000 m runners for most of the 1990s and early first decade of the 21st century...   Declan Ganley Declan Ganley Declan James Ganley is a British-born Irish citizen, entrepreneur, businessman and political activist. He is founder and chairman of a political party, Libertas with pan-European ambitions...   Rachel Allen Rachel Allen Rachel Allen is an Irish celebrity chef, known most widely for her work on television and as a writer.-Career as chef:...   Death on K2 2008 K2 disaster The 2008 K2 disaster occurred on August 1, 2008, when eleven mountaineers from international expeditions died on K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth. Three others were seriously injured. It was the worst single accident in the history of K2 mountaineering.-Expedition goal: K2:K2 is the...   Family and friends of Ger McDonnell Ger McDonnell Gerard McDonnell , mountaineer and engineer, was the first Irish person to reach the summit of K2, the second-highest mountain on Earth, in August 2008... Government nationalisation of banks Terry Prone, Frank Fitzgibbon and Richard Boyd-Barrett	Run for Africa  The Official Blues Brothers Revival  Andrew Johnston Andrew Johnston (singer) Andrew Johnston is a British singer who rose to fame when he appeared as a boy soprano on the second series of the British television talent show Britain's Got Talent in 2008. Although he did not win the series, he received a contract to record on the SyCo Music label owned by the Britain's Got...   Jack L Jack Lukeman Jack Lukeman , usually simply known as Jack L, is an Irish songwriter, musician, record producer, vocal artist and broadcaster known to perform in English, Irish, French, German, Czechoslovakian and Maori....	View
10 October 2008		Cecelia Ahern Cecelia Ahern Cecelia Ahern is an Irish novelist, since 2004. In addition to publishing several novels, she has also contributed a number of short stories to various anthologies, for which all her royalties go to charity.Ahern also created and produced the ABC comedy Samantha Who? starring Christina Applegate...   Alan Shortt and Pakie O'Callaghan (as Brian Cowen Brian Cowen Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...  and Charlie McCreevy Charlie McCreevy Charles "Charlie" McCreevy is a former Irish politician. He was the European Commissioner for Internal Market and Services from 2004–2010. He was first elected to Dáil Éireann as a Fianna Fáil TD in 1977 and held the seat in Kildare until 2004 when he became Ireland's European Commissioner... ) Frank McDonald Frank McDonald -Life:He was born in 1950 and educated at Kelly's Private School, Cabra Road; St Vincent’s CBS Glasnevin and University College Dublin, graduating with a BA in 1971...  and Kathy Sheridan  Sheila Hancock Sheila Hancock Sheila Cameron Hancock, CBE is an English actress and author.-Early life:Sheila Hancock was born in Blackgang on the Isle of Wight, the daughter of Ivy Louise and Enrico Cameron Hancock, who was a publican. Her sister Billie is seven years older...   Gary Kavanagh Gary Kavanagh Gary Kavanagh is a Gaelic football player from Laois in Ireland.He plays for the Stradbally club. He usually plays at wing forward for the Laois senior football team and in 2003 was part of the Laois team that won the Leinster Senior Football Championship title for the first time since 1946.Gary...   and hair models Peter and Mark Keaveney Peter Mark Peter Mark are an Irish hairdressing chain founded in 1961 by two brothers Peter and Mark Keaveney. The first shop they opened was in Dublin's Grafton Street. They currently have 74 shops in Ireland...   Gerry Kelly Gerry Kelly (broadcaster) Gerry Kelly is a broadcaster from Northern Ireland. He is best known for his presenting career at UTV.-Broadcasting career:...	Mary Coughlan Mary Coughlan (singer) Mary Coughlan is an Irish jazz and folk singer and actress. She has received great acclamation in her native country, for her emotional and heartfelt jazzy musical renditions.-Background:...	View
17 October 2008		Michael Parkinson Michael Parkinson Sir Michael Parkinson, CBE is an English broadcaster, journalist and author. He presented his interview programme, Parkinson, from 1971 to 1982 and from 1998 to 2007.- Early life :...   Redemptoristine Nuns  Jesse Metcalfe Jesse Metcalfe Jesse Eden Metcalfe is an American actor, best known for his role on Desperate Housewives as John Rowland. He is also notable for his portrayal of Miguel Lopez-Fitzgerald on the soap opera Passions and his starring role as the title character in the movie John Tucker Must Die.-Early life:Metcalfe...   Twiggy Twiggy Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....   Tom O'Connor	Duke Special Duke Special Duke Special, real name Peter Wilson, is a songwriter and performer based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A piano-based songwriter with a romantic style and a warm, distinctly accented voice, he has a distinctive look, with his long dreadlocks, eyeliner and outfits he describes as "hobo chic"...   John Bishop John Bishop (comedian) John Joseph Bishop is an award-winning comedian.His television debut came on The Panel. As an actor, he has appeared in the E4 teen drama Skins as Mr Fitch, father of twins, Katie and Emily and in the Ken Loach film Route Irish...   Keane  Sandy Kelly	View
24 October 2008		Tony Curtis Tony Curtis Tony Curtis was an American film actor whose career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950s and early 1960s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama...   Daniel Daniel O'Donnell Daniel or Danny O'Donnell may refer to:* Daniel O'Donnell, Irish singer* Daniel O'Donnell , American legislator from the state of New York* Danny O'Donnell * Danny O'Donnell...  and Majella O'Donnell Majella O'Donnell Majella O'Donnell is a businesswoman, singer, reality television star and the wife of entertainer Daniel O'Donnell. She is a native of Thurles, County Tipperary....   Richard Madeley Richard Madeley Richard Madeley is a British television presenter and columnist. With his wife Judy Finnigan, Madeley has presented This Morning and later the weekday chat show Richard & Judy...   Tommy Tiernan Tommy Tiernan Tommy Tiernan is an Irish comedian, actor and writer. He and Hector Ó hEochagáin present The Tommy and Hector Show on i102-104FM. Tiernan also featured in Father Ted.-Early life:...   Roseanne Barr Roseanne Barr Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...	Snow Patrol Snow Patrol Snow Patrol are an alternative rock band from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. Formed at the University of Dundee in 1994 as an indie rock band, the band is now based in Glasgow...   Leon Jackson Leon Jackson Leon Jackson is a Scottish singer-songwriter. He won the fourth series of British talent show The X Factor in 2007. Following his win, Jackson was the main star of his on-web series entitled Leon's Life, which ran from 2007 until 2008...   Daniel O'Donnell Sandy Kelly	View	Presented by Gerry Ryan Gerry Ryan Gerard "Gerry" Ryan was an Irish presenter of radio and television employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann...  in the absence of Pat Kenny Pat Kenny Patrick "Pat" Kenny is an Irish broadcaster and former disc jockey and continuity announcer. He is employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann and is their highest paid presenter. He presents Today with Pat Kenny on RTÉ Radio 1 each weekday morning between 10:00 and midday...
31 October 2008		Myleene Klass Myleene Klass Myleene Angela Quinn is an English singer, pianist, media personality and occasional model. She was formerly a member of the defunct British pop band Hear'Say.-Early life:...   Oliver Callan Oliver Callan Oliver Callan is an Irish vocal and performance satirist and impressionist known for featuring on Nob Nation, Green Tea and The Saturday Night Show. He rose to fame during the 2000s when his daily Nob Nation slots aired on RTÉ Radio...   Frank Miller Sonya Lennon and Brendan Courtney Brendan Courtney Brendan Courtney is an Irish comedian and television presenter, the first openly gay presenter in Ireland. He has hosted Wanderlust on RTÉ Two, The Brendan Courtney Show on TV3, Playdate on ITV2 and Off the Rails on RTÉ One.-Career:Brendan began his career on RTÉ Two's Wanderlust and ITV1's Love...   Seasick Steve Seasick Steve Steven Gene Wold, commonly known as Seasick Steve, is an American blues musician. He plays guitars, and sings, usually about his early life doing casual work.-Childhood and early life:...   Paul Williams	The Saw Doctors The Saw Doctors The Saw Doctors are an Irish rock band. Formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, they have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Their first number one, "I Useta Lover," topped the Irish charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1990, and still holds the record for the...   The Legends of Swing  Seasick Steve	View
7 November 2008		Lindsay Wagner Lindsay Wagner Lindsay Jean Wagner is an American actress. She is probably best known for her portrayal of Jaime Sommers in the 1970s television series The Bionic Woman , though she has maintained a lengthy career in a variety of other film and television productions since.-Early life:Wagner was born in Los...   Il Divo Il Divo Il Divo is a multinational operatic pop vocal group created by music manager, executive, and reality TV star Simon Cowell. Formed in the United Kingdom, they are also signed to Cowell's record label, Syco Music...   Mark Little Mark Little (Irish journalist) Mark Little is an Irish journalist, television presenter, author and "social media visionary". He presented Prime Time for RTÉ until December 2009. He took a year of leave of absence from RTÉ to pursue a project centred around digital media and global journalism...   Lorna Byrne  Shakin' Stevens Shakin' Stevens Shakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...   Lying Eyes case  Emer Connolly and Niamh O'Connor	Hardy Drew and the Nancy Boys  Il Divo The Da Vinci Robot  Strong Men Jason Reilly and Paul Roberts Shakin' Stevens	View
14 November 2008		Paul O'Grady Paul O'Grady Paul James Michael O'Grady MBE is an English comedian, television presenter, actor, writer and radio DJ. He is best known for presenting the daytime chat television series, The Paul O'Grady Show and, more recently, Paul O'Grady Live, as well as his drag queen comedic alter ego, Lily Savage, as...   The Priests The Priests The Priests are a classical musical group made up of three Catholic priests all from Northern Ireland. Fr Eugene and his brother Fr Martin O'Hagan are originally from the village of Claudy, County Londonderry with the family now residing in Derry whilst Fr David Delargy is from Ballymena, County...   Des Bishop Des Bishop Des Bishop is an Irish comedian and was brought up in New York. He is now primarily based in Ireland, after moving to County Wexford in 1990 at the age of 14.-Approach to Comedy:...   Jonah Lomu Jonah Lomu Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...   Cowen in crisis Brian Cowen Brian Cowen is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 7 May 2008 to 9 March 2011. He was head of a coalition government led by Fianna Fáil which until 23 January 2011 had the support of the Green Party and independent TDs.Cowen was also leader of Fianna Fáil from 7 May...   Fintan O'Toole Fintan O'Toole Fintan O'Toole is a columnist, assistant editor and drama critic for The Irish Times. He has written for The Irish Times since 1988 and was drama critic for the New York Daily News from 1997 to 2001. He is a literary critic, historical writer and political commentator, with generally left-wing views... , Anton Savage and Michael Healy Rae	Tom Jones Tom Jones (singer) Sir Thomas John Woodward, OBE , known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh singer.Since the mid 1960s, Jones has sung many styles of popular music – pop, rock, R&B, show tunes, country, dance, techno, soul and gospel – and sold over 100 million records...   The Priests Simply Red Simply Red Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz...	View
21 November 2008		Kelly O'Neill and Shane Curry Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Hilfiger Thomas Jacob "Tommy" Hilfiger is an American fashion designer and founder of the premium lifestyle brand Tommy Hilfiger.-Early life:...   PJ Gallagher PJ Gallagher PJ Gallagher is an Irish stand-up comedian, perhaps better known for his television show Naked Camera. His various characters in the programme include a mentally unstable taxi driver, ladies man Jake Stevens and a "Dirty Auld One", an old woman who makes sexual comments. PJ's performances on T.V...   Georgina Baillie and The Satanic Sluts  Risteárd Cooper Risteárd Cooper Risteárd Cooper is an Irish actor, comedian, singer and writer and is one third of comedy trio Aprés Match.Cooper graduated from the acting programme at the Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College...  and David Kelly David Kelly (actor) David Kelly is an Irish actor, who has been in regular film and television work since the 1950s.-Acting career:Playing everything from Beckett to Shakespeare, he has appeared in Theatre, TV and film constantly since 1959...   Charlie Bird Charlie Bird Charles "Charlie" Bird is an Irish journalist and broadcaster. He was Chief News Correspondent with RTÉ News and Current Affairs until January 2009. He took up the role of Washington Correspondent, but prematurely returned to his earlier post in Ireland in June 2010.-Early life:Bird was born in...	Kíla Kíla Kíla are an Irish folk music/World music group, originally formed in 1987 in the Irish Language secondary school, Coláiste Eoin in Co. Dublin. Kila's blend of Irish traditional music and World Music with a modern rock sensibility is generally credited with breathing new life into contemporary Irish...   June Rodgers  The Satanic Sluts  Colm Wilkinson Colm Wilkinson Colm Wilkinson is an Irish tenor, best known for originating the role of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables and for playing the title role in The Phantom of the Opera .Due to his association with these musicals, he reprised the role of...	View
28 November 2008		Nicky Byrne Nicky Byrne Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne, Jr is a singer-songwriter, radio presenter and former footballer. From 1998 until 2012 he was the oldest member of Irish pop band, Westlife....   Sarah, Duchess of York Sarah, Duchess of York Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...   Top Gear  Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Clarkson Jeremy Charles Robert Clarkson is an English broadcaster, journalist and writer who specialises in motoring. He is best known for his role on the BBC TV show Top Gear along with co-presenters Richard Hammond and James May... , Richard Hammond Richard Hammond Richard Mark Hammond is an English broadcaster, writer, and journalist most noted for co-hosting car programme Top Gear with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, as well as presenting Brainiac: Science Abuse on Sky 1.-Early life:...  and James May James May James Daniel May is an English television presenter, journalist and writer. He is best known for his role as co-presenter of the award-winning motoring programme Top Gear alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond....	McFly McFly McFly are an English pop rock band who first found fame in 2004. The band consists of Tom Fletcher , Danny Jones , Dougie Poynter and Harry Judd . They were signed to the Island Records label from their 2004 launch until December 2007, before creating their own label, Super Records...	View	Annual edition of The Late Late Toy Show The Late Late Toy Show The Late Late Toy Show—also known as The Toy Show— is an annual iconic and influential Irish institution, an edition of the world's longest-running chat show, The Late Late Show broadcast on RTÉ One in Ireland each Friday evening. The Toy Show, as it is referred to, is broadcast in late...
5 December 2008		Michael O'Leary Michael O'Leary Michael O'Leary is the name of:*Michael O'Leary , Irish-Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross*Michael O'Leary , Irish politician and leader of the Irish Labour Party...   Louis Walsh Louis Walsh Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:... 's unnamed band Katy Katy Taylor Katy Lynn Taylor is an American figure skater. She is the 2006 Four Continents Champion and the 2006 U.S. national pewter medalist.-Biography:...  and Peter Taylor Alan Sugar Alan Sugar Alan Michael Sugar, Baron Sugar is a British entrepreneur, media personality and political advisor. From humble origins in the East End of London, Sugar now has an estimated fortune of £770m , and was ranked 89th in the Sunday Times Rich List 2011...   Richard Corrigan Richard Corrigan Richard Corrigan is an Irish chef born in Dublin but raised in Ballivor, County Meath.Corrigan achieved a Michelin Star in 1998 and has been awarded many other culinary accolades, including Outstanding London Chef at the London Restaurant Awards. He is Chef/Patron of Corrigans in Mayfair...   John Waters John Waters (columnist) John Waters is a columnist with The Irish Times and a former editor of Magill magazine. His career began in 1981 with the Irish political-music magazine Hot Press. He went on to write for the Sunday Tribune and later edited In Dublin magazine and Magill...  and Sinéad O'Connor Sinéad O'Connor Sinéad Marie Bernadette O'Connor is an Irish singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album The Lion and the Cobra and achieved worldwide success in 1990 with a cover of the song "Nothing Compares 2 U"....	Pat Shortt Pat Shortt Pat Shortt is an actor, comedian and entertainer. In 2007, he starred in the film Garage, directed by Lenny Abrahamson for which he won the Best Actor award at the 2008 IFTAs...   Louis's Girls Rhydian Roberts Rhydian Roberts Rhydian James Roberts , popularly known as Rhydian, is a classically trained Welsh baritone and crossover artist. He rose to fame on The X Factor in 2007...	View
12 December 2008		Boyzone Boyzone Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...   Louis Walsh Louis Walsh Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:... 's unnamed band Josh Groban Josh Groban Joshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His four solo albums have been certified at least multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country...   Heston Blumenthal Heston Blumenthal Heston Marc Blumenthal OBE is an English chef and owner of The Fat Duck, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire voted Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide 2007 and 2009, and voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005...   Archbishop Diarmuid Martin Diarmuid Martin Diarmuid Martin is the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland. He was born in Dublin.-Early life and education:...   A review of 2008 Eddie Hobbs Eddie Hobbs -Early career:Hobbs worked for Zurich Life 1979 to 1991 and left his position as Marketing Manager to set up a fee-based financial planning company TIPS. In March 1993 Hobbs published a landmark report "Endowment Mortgages The Hometruth" which collapsed sales of endowment homeloans in Ireland by... , Nell McCafferty Nell McCafferty Nell McCafferty is an Irish journalist, playwright, civil rights campaigner and feminist. In her journalistic work she has written for The Irish Press, The Irish Times, Sunday Tribune, Hot Press and The Village Voice....  and Joe Duffy Joe Duffy Joseph "Joe" Duffy is an Irish broadcaster employed by Raidió Teilifís Éireann . A Jacob's Award winner, he is the current presenter of Liveline, which is broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, Monday - Fridays between 13:45 and 15:00.Duffy has a history as a student activist; he was President of the Union of...	The Dubliners The Dubliners The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...  and Damien Dempsey Damien Dempsey Damien Dempsey is an Irish singer and songwriter who mixes traditional Irish folk with contemporary lyrics to deliver social comment on the positive and negative aspects arising from Ireland's Celtic Tiger society.-Early life:...   Celebrities on Ice Lisa Murphy Lisa Murphy Lisa Murphy is an American news anchor hosting Fast Forward from and co-hosting Street Smart from on Bloomberg Television in New York.-Career:... , Shane Byrne, Patricia McKenna Patricia McKenna Patricia McKenna is an Irish independent politician. She served as a Green Party Member of the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency from 1994 to 2004.-Background:...  and Brian Ormond Apres Match Après Match Après Match is an Irish comedy show normally screened after competitive Irish soccer matches on RTÉ. It is performed by Barry Murphy, Risteárd Cooper and Gary Cooke. It grew out of Barry Murphy and Risteárd Cooper's Frank's Euro Ting sketches which first enlivened RTÉ's coverage of Euro '96 for...   Josh Groban Katie Melua Katie Melua Ketevan "Katie" Melua is a British-Georgian singer, songwriter and musician. She moved to Northern Ireland at the age of eight and then to England at fourteen. Melua is signed to the small Dramatico record label, under the management of composer Mike Batt, and made her musical debut in 2003...	View
19 December 2008		Boyzone Boyzone Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...   Dawn French	Boyzone Celebrities on Ice Lisa Murphy Lisa Murphy Lisa Murphy is an American news anchor hosting Fast Forward from and co-hosting Street Smart from on Bloomberg Television in New York.-Career:... , Shane Byrne, Patricia McKenna Patricia McKenna Patricia McKenna is an Irish independent politician. She served as a Green Party Member of the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency from 1994 to 2004.-Background:...  and Brian Ormond Boyzone feat. Eoghan Quigg Eoghan Quigg Eoghan Quigg is an Irish pop singer and occasional actor from Dungiven in Northern Ireland, who finished third in the fifth series of the British television music talent contest The X Factor in 2008...	View	Mainly but not officially a Boyzone Boyzone Boyzone are an Irish boy band comprising Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating,Shane Lynch, and formerly Stephen Gately. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK charts and 21 singles in the Ire charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12...  special.

External links

• Official site
• A history of Pat Kenny on The Late Late Show - Irish Independent
  Irish Independent
  The Irish Independent is Ireland's largest-selling daily newspaper that is published in both compact and broadsheet formats. It is the flagship publication of Independent News & Media.-History:...
  
  
• Video of Pat Kenny's resignation announcement