Thousands of viewers switch off RTE Late Late Show despite GAA special praise

More than 45,000 viewers switched off the RTE Late Late Show last Friday as Patrick Kielty hosted a GAA special. 

RTE figures show that an average of 369,000 viewers tuned in to the special show but that was a drop of 46,000 from the 415,000 who tuned in to the previous episode. 

The GAA episode did get an extra 33,000 viewers on the RTE Player and also beat out the Tommy Tiernan show for viewers.

An average of 323,000 viewers tuned in to Saturday night’s Tommy Tiernan Show, an increase of 9,000 on the previous week. His show featured former Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given, comedian Deirdre O'Kane and artist Bernard Canavan.

19,000 people tuned in to the episode on the RTE player.

Joe Brolly was among the guests on the GAA special Late Late Show as he appeared alongside former Dublin footballer and All-Ireland winner Michael Darragh McAuley.

Brolly's comments and appearance on the show led to many comments on social media, including one from the sister of murdered Detective Garda Colm Horkan, who was shot dead in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, in June 2020.

Deirdre Horkan recalled how the former Derry star visited the family following the detective's death and "brought humour and humanity" to a house that was "broken".

She posted on X, formerly Twitter: "Joe Brolly a great GAA man, he called to see us after Colm died, no one asked him too, done out of kindness, for a few hours he brought humour and humanity to house that was broken, that’s the GAA family always looking after each other, he’s a gentleman."

One comment said: "It's things like that, you really remember and respect people for". 

"That's the mark of the man, very kind gesture and says a lot about Joe Brolly," another commented. 

Powerful stuff from Joe & Michael Darragh tonight #latelate pic.twitter.com/tBPyQYhNPG

— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) April 5, 2024

Following the appearance by the former Sunday Game analyst on the Late Late Show GAA special, many said he should be reinstated on the RTÉ GAA show. 

Elsewhere, the audience was packed with county colours from all over the country while members of the first two ladies football teams to contest an All-Ireland final in 1974, Offaly and Tipperary, were featured.

The show largely attracted positive feedback from viewers. There was also an emotional moment at the end of the show when Patrick Kielty was surprised by the appearance of his Derry minor teammates from their All-Ireland win in 1987.