Stevie Mulrooney belts out Ireland's Call. Photo / Sky Sport
Leinster wing James Lowe eventually took the man-of-the-match honours for his all-action performance in Ireland’s 36-0 thrashing of Italy yesterday.
But most of social media had already awarded it to Stevie Mulrooney, an eight-year-old from Kilkenny whose belting rendition of Ireland’s Call before the game got the home team
off to “a great start”, according to head coach Andy Farrell.
Farrell could be seen beaming from ear to ear after listening to Mulrooney, who had been invited to sing earlier in the week by Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier, having first risen to national prominence on The Late, Late Toy Show, an annual, special edition of the Irish chat show The Late Late Show.
Mulrooney first sang the song in last November’s programme, before being surprised on stage by Peter O’Mahony and Bundee Aki.
Farrell was hugely impressed by the confidence Mulrooney showed in front of 52,700 fans at the Aviva Stadium, performing after Jennifer Dalton had sung the Italian anthem and Amhran na bhFiann.
