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LAST UPDATE | 7 Dec 2024
ANOTHER CHRISTMAS, ANOTHER Late Late Toy Show – this time, themed around the classic Christmas film Home Alone.
We got goat yoga, tractors, fart guns, Minecraft, sparkly slime, musical numbers, storytelling, and surprise guest appearances by singer Jazzy, aeronautical engineer Norah Patten, Olympians Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley and rugby star Johnny Sexton.
The Journal liveblogged all of the best moments, from the funny to the cringe to the heartstring-pulling.
Good evening to all the kids and big kids tuning in to the Toy Show this evening!
Lauren Boland here. The last liveblog I did before this one was about the general election results – tonight’s news should hopefully be a lot more upbeat, though perhaps just as chaotic.
We’ll be liveblogging the show (and social media reactions to it) this evening, so watch along with us for this most Christmassy of broadcasts.
250 children are taking part in the show this evening as performers and toy testers to bring us music, dance, and lots of toy demonstrations.
The main theme this year is the 1990 film Home Alone, so we’re expecting to see an opening number with its fair share of mayhem.
RTÉ has promised “plenty of mischief with staircase sliding, snowball throwing, ‘Wicked’ performances, and lots of rocking around the Christmas tree”.
Something new to the show this year will be the ‘Toy Show County Parade’, which is going to see 32 kids from each county “show their pride for their county… expect swirling and twirling, gymnastics and pageantry”.
If the classic vehicle procession is anything to go by, we’re sure the county parade will go off without a hitch…
RTÉ has just played a little sneak peek from the Toy Show stage on the the 9 o’clock news.
Maddee, one of the kids taking part in the show tonight, said she’s feeling “nervous, excited and happy”. We’re all excited for you Maddee!
You’re certainly much better off staying in and watching the Toy Show tonight than going out in this weather. There are Status Orange and Status Red warnings that will be taking effect as Storm Darragh blows in. It’s already pretty rough out there – you can read more about the weather warnings on The Journal.
Hope everyone has something nice to tuck into. We’ve cracked open a tub of Roses here.
Kids running through Dublin Airport, wondering if they forgot to turn off the immersion, and Patrick Kielty sliding down a staircase – ’tis Toy Show time alright.
That’s some amount of tinsel on Patrick Kielty.
Patrick is joined by child-turned-snowman Isabelle, who tells us in sign language about the different ways that the Toy Show can be viewed tonight – it’s available to watch with Irish Sign Language on the RTÉ News Channel and on the RTÉ Player, and audio description will be available for the repeat show on Sunday afternoon.
It’s Dory! If anyone’s on TikTok, you might be familiar with the first toy demonstrator of the evening . Dory is a gas character that makes videos on social media with her Mam.
She’s showing us a toy monkey that you can feed from a bottle, who lets out a loud burp. “Pardon you,” Dory quips.
That was quick! We have our first celebrity drop-in of the evening. Irish singer Jazzy is surprising Dory.
Moments prior, Dory tells us she saw Jazzy out the car window once – well, either her or a lookalike.
If you missed the intro to tonight’s show, here’s where you can have a watch back here:
Now that’s how you SLEIGH an entrance 🛷✨#LateLateToyShow #latelate pic.twitter.com/yxOJBSA2Qp
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 6, 2024
Up next is Olly, who’s playing drums for us. He’s in two bands, he says, one of which is called ‘Sleepy Heads’. An apt name to be sharing on the Late Late Toy Show – probably some small sleepy heads out there fading fast already.
The Late Late is fundraising for children’s charities again through its Toy Show appeal.
If you’re looking to donate, you can do so on the RTÉ website at https://www.rte.ie/toy-show-appeal or through the Revolut app.
It’s all gotten very zen for a moment. Alfie is showing us some yoga – specifically, goat yoga.
The zen was shortlived – Alfie has produced a fart gun.
To be fair, this seems exactly like the kind of present my brother would have gotten great use out of when he was younger (no doubt would still manage to find some enjoyment from now at 19).
When will RTÉ give the people what they want?
GIVE ME 6 YEAR OLD CULCHIES WITH MULLETS NOW #LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/GcAr1Bxovh
— Danielle 🇵🇸 (@da1nie25) December 6, 2024
On the money.
Me when Ryanair tells me I need to take clothes out of my overweight bag #LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/SmRqy7FRiG
— Davey B (@Dave_B24) December 6, 2024
The perils of watching the Toy Show.
Stop with the WWE toys my boyfriend has decided to change his Christmas list and I’ve already gotten his presents #LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/fDC62bzIAs
— Ciara 🥹 (@ciarareddy) December 6, 2024
We’re back from the first ad break and Patrick is showing us Star, a puppy training to be an autism assistance dog.
Patrick was just saying what a good dog she’s been, and on cue, Star responded with plenty of face licks.
Star has now been whisked off the set again – bring her back, please!
Toy tester Georgie Mae is now showing us some sparkly slime, which she testifies got stuck to her pyjamas and to her baby cousins. Classic.
Star 🥹🥹#LateLateToyShow #LateLate pic.twitter.com/pvlORmVcIm
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 6, 2024
“Is Paddy on the naughty list this year?” Georgie May asks her toy crystal ball.
In a classic Toy Show toy fail, the ball brings no answer.
One for everyone in the audience – a gift basket from Arnotts for the Toy Show live audience. You wouldn’t be jealous at all.
Toy tester Brian Óg is sporting a dapper vest, shirt and bow tie. He showed us a gecko racing up a wall, pivoted over to video game Minecraft, and then quickly on to another toy that he tells us he plays with his brother: “Shoutout John Joe!”
The studio audience is getting an immersive experience from Brian Óg, who’s just told them to close their eyes and imagine their Christmas Day, including everyone being “out for the count” after dinner.
Brian Óg is now doing a karaoke duet with Patrick Kielty to a Nathan Carter song. This lad is bringing us everything tonight.
Brian Óg is a fan favourite.
Someone could tell me Brian Óg has been hosting the toy show for the last 10 years and I’d believe them,made for the telly #LateLateToyShow
— Caoimhe (@IamCaoimheDunne) December 6, 2024
Can Brian Óg please explain the mortgage application process to me because the way he just described those games in 8.5 seconds was top class#LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/l2pBPEdYuE
— Kendra Becker (@kendra_becker) December 6, 2024
When I grow up I want to be Brian Óg #latelatetoyshow pic.twitter.com/nP7CNoRaX2
— Lisa Murray ⚡️ @lisawiththefringe (@lisawthefringe) December 6, 2024
A mashup for the ages for all the Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter fans out there. Who needs expensive concert tickets?
Scientist-in-the-making Zara has just given a well-articulated explanation of how the moon was formed, followed up by this cracker of a joke:
“What did Mars say to Saturn?”
“Give me a ring some time.”
I’ll be stealing that one Zara.
Another surprise guest! Irish aeronautical engineer Norah Patten, who is set to be the first Irish person to go to space, has touched down to surprise Zara and fellow toy tester Cillian.
That was lovely – little storyteller Leo treated us to a well-told tale about the power of a hat.
Not aaaable 😭😭😭#LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/hFGsZTF1IN
— Jenny Gilleece (@JennyGilleece) December 6, 2024
3 Irish astronauts 🚀#latelatetoyshow #latelate pic.twitter.com/D3d5QHA3bX
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 6, 2024
I’ve well and truly lost track of all of Patrick Kielty’s outfit change. It’s a more classic Christmas jumper after this ad break – earlier, here was one of his costumes:
Entrepreneurs Phoebe and Holly are telling us about their business venture – small bags filled with sweets or toys – and their friendship, which used to have some ‘mini fights’ but they’d ultimately make up when they needed someone to knock for to come out to play with.
Their friendship is put to the test with a ‘BFF quiz’ – the final questions are about Universal Studios in Florida. I think we can see where this is going…
Sure enough! Phoebe and Holly and their families are being sent on a holiday together to Universal in Orlando. Enjoy ladies.
Another musical interlude – we’re getting a rendition of ‘For Good’, a song in the musical Wicked (very popular right now from the recent release of a film version of the musical’s first act). Someone get these kids in front of the casting director for act two.
Kirsty, one of the performers, has a sister Lauren who has been receiving treatment in Crumlin. Kirsty has been given a mission to run over to a Smyth’s to do a toy dash – and she’s going to be helped out by Olympians Sharlene Mawdsley and Phil Healy.
Here’s Kevin, who has a batch of eggs, introducing us to a Leitrim half-dozen. “Five for the price of six.”
He’s telling us now about his favourite tractor, which has “a good gear box on it”.
A warning: “If you’re wanting one of them, Patrick, you’d want to be selling a fair few eggs.”
Classic Toy Show stuff.
We don't know this kid, but let's be honest, we've all been waiting for him#LateLateToyShow pic.twitter.com/Z1pDoGVX60
— Andrew (@Reddin1153) December 6, 2024
YAY A FARMER FINALLY #latelatetoyshow pic.twitter.com/L1K1IR8L6z
— emily 🪩 (@goldrushreid) December 6, 2024
A star in memory of Saoírse Ruane, who was on the Toy Show in 2020 and sadly passed away from cancer earlier this year.
Saoírse's star⭐️🤍 pic.twitter.com/h4vhKx4Jeq
— TheJournal.ie (@thejournal_ie) December 6, 2024
“5 for the price of 6, you know yourself”.
— Jack Nolan (@jacknolan__) December 6, 2024
Judging by that sales logic, and the suspiciously ambiguous border county accent, Kevin’s no Leitrim man.
A Cavan man if ever I’ve come across one.#LateLateToyShow
The classic vehicle procession has been reimagined this year as a ‘county parade’, featuring bikes and trikes but also singing and a spot of gymnastics so far. Which county are we rooting for?
Oisín and Patrick from Dublin, who are dressed up as jedis, have built the house from Home Alone out of Lego. Enjoying the Star Wars x Home Alone crossover.
It’s time now for book corner.
“I didn’t get much time to read the book, so I only read half a page,” says one of our readers, Wehlani, about one of the books she read. We love the honesty Wehlani! She gave a brilliant synopsis of it nonetheless, along with her other books.
In a nice moment, fellow reader Anna shares Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers, talking about how her nana used to read it to her when she was younger.
Our final reader Liam shares some Irish non-fiction books, including “The Story of Irish Rugby”. Liam talks about how he’s a big fan of Johnny Sexton – lo and behold, here comes Johnny!
Liam is starstruck.
Time to check in with Kirsty, who performed as part of a musical number earlier and has since headed over to a Smyth’s.
In a speedy trolley dash, Kirsty has filled up two trolleys with toys for children in Crumlin hospital with the help of Olympians Phil Healy and Sharlene Mawdsley.
A quick look back at the end of the county parade:
When they played for the County 🤗 🤗#latelatetoyshow #latelate pic.twitter.com/vloKijBBYx
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 6, 2024
We got a couple more performances to finish out the night, with a rap from Josh and a rendition of All I Want For Christmas is You led by Abiha – with a video message from The Mariah Carey played in between.
That’s a wrap 🥹🫶#LateLateToyShow #LateLate pic.twitter.com/7ojr3Lc1Nr
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) December 7, 2024
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I am sick to my teeth with these spineless full of crap politicians. Why as a people are we not rising up against this governments actions??. We are the whipping boys of Europe just like we were the whipping boys of the Brits for 800 years. This disgusts me to the bone.
€1bn less austerity every year disgusts you?
You write well for an 800 year-old man and that is not taking into account that you were being whipped for the entire period.
Higgins go away it’s you and ur lot I want to kick off this island!!!
If you studied or even understood economics you would know this is a bad deal for everyone on this island now and in the future.
Your party is full of lies has no back bone and has done nothing for the ordinary working class.
Now please go away
All in a days work fella
Is it not €2bn less p.a.?
What disgust me David was the balmy any corruption that to played out in front of my eyes last night to make and illegal debt legal and the fact that everyone is saying we got this good deal but yet austerity will still be heaped on the people. This government have managed to double this debt and make it sovereign, well done. Illegal ,private banking debt
Saturday join in the protest in Dublin or Galway me show this government and future governments what we are made of come out and show your support come out and let them know we are not taking Their Lies and contempt anymore SATURDAY 9th Feb which is the day after tomorrow
Rising up. Meaning what? Get guns and shoot people? I have read some hysterical nonsensical childish sh!te on this site in recent days. But congratulations Simon. You win the prize. It’s a brain!
Where in galway will the protest be?? I might call in with my logical friends and counter protest… drive the so called ‘protestors’ off the streets…
Is there protest in cork also ?
@Jilie ……..Yes there is a protest in Cork also
Paul…surely you realise this is a bad deal…….for the journal naysayers who cannot see anything positive in anything and just get off on bad news.
Maybe it’s just me but it seems the Government are patting themselves on the back that Anglo is no more … The debt is still there and it may increase with interest,, they turned a promissory note into a state debt maybe someone can explained to me What have they to gloat about??
That they are still on his wages,perks and pensions. While you and I and our children and your grandchildren are fcuked
Elaine. The debt has more than doubled, yet you find people coming on here to celebrate a billion less per year on austerity measures. Where’s yer man Varadkar today? There’s not a word out of him. “Not one more cent” I’m only realising now what he meant by that statement.6400 billion more cents Leo. Is that what you were trying to say back in 2011?
They’ve swept something nasty under our carpet and they’re getting away with it.
Between now and the next election we’ll see all sorts of “funding” being rolled out with claims it’s all down to this “deal”.
The memory of Anglo will dim and there’s plenty of time to put a nice spin on the whole saga.
Some of them can even smell re-election, you can see the relief on their faces.
It’s now €60 Billion.
“oh what a difference a days makes……24 little hours” I’m sound for my kids and grandkids to pay for this generations mistake. short term gain but long term pain
having some empathy for the government they couldn’t have done anything else but what they did….but it galls me that bond holders didn’t lose a cent
I’m so mad I think I will write a strongly worded letter.
Michael Noonan is to be congratulated on an excellent deal negotiated. It’s a good day for New Ireland. Liquidating Anglo was a good move. FF should have done it some years ago.
It’s a marginally better day today for anyone over 40. It may be okay for New Ireland as you call it, but it is a very bad day for Future Ireland.
We have certainly lumbered the future generation with our debts and in the New Ireland of self interest and self protection, it is a moderately good deal.
If you can ignore the morality and fairness aspect, ignore foisting this on the next two generations, and be happy that the Promissory Notes were absolutely legally secure and would never have been partly written down, then we have bought the present at the expense of the future.
Is there anything to said for saying a mass!
Why do the disgruntled, uneducated and hate-filled comments always get the most likes? Some people’s reasoning is just scary. Welcome to Ireland – we like to give out about everything!
Anything to say on the article or is this just an admonition for those of us who fail to see how wonderful everything is?
An educated rebuttal? A rarity of worth. Good man Peter. I have one question – if today’s news is such a cataclysmic political blunder, why have so many political parties being pushing so adamantly for it?
They ll only ask the last person to leave Ireland to turn off the lights
The ESB no wait, is it the ECB, anyhow the lights will have been disconnected well before then!
But we’ve left the immersion on.
Well at least when we do come to pay it the economy will have grown and it in real terms will not be as big!
Folks
Buy bank shares now while they are on the floor
Things can only get better!
Lets all be realistic. There never was going to be a write down of the debt. I think under the circumstances this is the best deal they could get. Sure, there is still the interest to be paid every year, but nobody seems to be thinking of the money saved. That’s 2 billion that can be used otherwise. To hire nurses etc. To be put back into the economy. To help badly needed growth in the country.
Nobody can look 40 years into the future. Who knows what will be?
If you work on an inflation rate of 2% then the 30 billion will be worth about 53 billion in 30 years time, 66 in 40 years. This is effectively halving the debt by the standards of that time. Not a bad deal, given the fact that the country had time to grow and prosper.
Maybe people need to stop only seeing the negative and start concentrating on the positives of a situation.
Michael Noonan sounds like Hannibal Lecter
Wafflers
Lookin fwd to readin my 5 and 2 yr olds their bedtime stories now about how their children and their grandchildren will be paying debts caused by greedy shower of f#%ker$ .people talk about being proud to be Irish ! Why ??? A corrupt country ran by thieves and crooks
Does this mean I won’t have to cancel my Sky sports sub .? No wait …that’s the Household tax ..sheet!
noonan = neamhinniúil
Mr Noonan cares what you think I am sure..
Maybe…just maybe it is a good deal! Why do so many people think Europe are out to get us, and we’re all half wits…this is economics and not lads agreeing a deal for a dog in a pub. Have faith and get on living your life, it’s not that bad I bet !
I could not play this. Is it working?
Hi Patrick, the press conference has been delayed. It’s due to kick off shortly and the live stream should start working then.
It’s working now
Thanks Christine.
Too many naysayers in this country,this was the best deal this government could have got,it’s a much cheaper option than the promissory notes..a debt write was never on the cards,& it was FF that got us into this situation on the first place,so some credit where credit is due for getting this deal..
Everyone is missing the main talking point of this article……Noonan describes how he bought his house in Limerick in 1068?!?!
Whatever you want to say about him, he looks well for a man who has to be pushing 1000!
The only way ireland will be a better place is for people to over throw the government. 1 problem with that is we are a civilised country who bitch and moan but do sheg all about it. If it honest to god bothered people that much then someone would have done something about it
This deal is an utter disgrace. The private debt of the crooks at Anglo/ Nationwide etc has now officially become sovereign debt. To sweeten the pill for ourselves, we’ve passed it on to the next two generations. There is no cause for celebration here. Yet another sell out of the Irish people by our so-called representatives.
Ahhh, the chuckle brothers! Don’t you love them.
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