"Top o' the evening to you": The Early Late Late Show-Thursday 17th March 2022

By order of the rulers of the Independent Kingdom of Montrosia, the show this week airs a night early, to tie in with the day that's in it. An extra day off for Hobbidy, to ramble around spreading kindness to the denizens of Monsktown, Dun Laoghaire pier, and Dalkey!

On the face of it, this should be an upbeat and happy evening, but mine host will no doubt stick a pin in it somehow, as is his wont.

"To celebrate St Patrick's Day, The Late Late Show will air live on Thursday night this week instead of its usual Friday night slot, with an evening dedicated to showcasing the very best Irish music, comedy and sport."

Should be fiancée with two "e"s Shirley? Kellie is a great choice for Grand Marshall, delighted for her.

John C Reilly also features, a familiar face to many. He's Irish you know. That will be a cornerstone of the interview, not because it's Paddy's Day, but because it's written on Hobbidy's cue card, and he'd ask it regardless, any Friday of the year.

"Olympic gold winner Kellie Harrington will be joining the show straight from the parade on Thursday after serving as the Grand Marshal for the big event.

The champion boxer is just back from her first foray into the ring since Tokyo, winning the Strandja tournament in Bulgaria. She has a jam-packed few weeks coming up between marrying her fiancé and the World Championships in Istanbul this May.

Hollywood star John C Reilly, the international guest of honour at the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin, will also be among the guests.

The Chicago-born actor will chat about his Irish heritage, his love of Irish music and about filming in Ireland."

Ollie Callan will be on to do some of his impressions. His best one is that of a competent broadcaster, which he gets to practise every time the power washed stick insect who will be interviewing him, decides to wander off solving mysteries and having adventures.

"No celebrity is safe from the wit of impressionist and comedian Oliver Callan who will celebrate St Patrick's Day with a host of well-known Irish voices."

Stephen Kenny is on to "talk about his hopes for the future of Irish football." God bless him, the man will need to be an unrepentant optimist, after what this prick (below) and his minions did to the Association.

Music by Moya Brennan/Clannad, the lad from Bell-X1, a Persian-Irish fusion group (that sounds DELICIOUS), and Dan McCabe.

(P.S. There's an award? Is this an annual thing? Are they going to award it to an entire country?

Maybe there's an Acting the Maggot award for Vladimir Putin as well? If so, even the might and expertise of every cyber-offender in Russia won't get the RTE Player to come in, so he won't be able to see it anyway.)

"And The Late Late Show St Patrick's Day Award will be presented live on the night and will pay homage to the victims of the war in Ukraine.

Host Ryan Tubridy said: "I am very excited about our show on St Patrick’s night. We look forward to welcoming everyone from right around the world on RTÉ Player where we will be raising a glass or a mug to everyone who calls Ireland home.

"We are all family, and we will gather together to remind ourselves of why we love being Irish."