Rugby-mad boy stunned by Peter O’Mahony and Bundee Aki Toy Show surprise

Stevie, who plays under-eight rugby with Kilkenny RFC, was singing the Ireland’s Call anthem when the stars emerged from backstage and slipped up beside him.

As Stevie glanced to his right he was startled to see O’Mahony, and then he realised that Bundee Aki was on his left.

Speaking to the Sunday World yesterday, talented youngster Stevie said: “I felt scared because they were massive.”

His dad Seamus also revealed that Stevie didn’t initially recognise O’Mahony because he was clean-shaven. “Peter normally grows a bit of a beard before playing a rugby match, so he looked different,” he explained.

“When Stevie spotted the two guys it threw him off key because he usually finishes that song really strong. Normally he’s good on the finish and hits the high notes. But you couldn’t blame him because he was sort of starstruck.”

Stevie got the opportunity to briefly hang out with the rugby stars behind the scenes. “The funny thing is, Stevie had seen a TV programme about Peter O’Mahony’s garden and he said to Peter, ‘I love your garden, it’s luscious.’ I have no idea where that word came from, but it was funny.”

Toy Show kid Sheamie from Kilfenora, Co. Clare, was also a big hit on the night with his hilarious banter.

Sheamie’s role was to show off some Lego pieces, some of which belonged to his grandmother back in Clare.

“My granny barely let me bring that one up,” he said, pointing to a vintage Lego piece. “She won’t let me bring it up to my own house, but she let me bring it up to the Big Smoke.”

The Toy Show team had sent him a set of Lego construction machinery and vehicles to assemble prior the Friday night’s show.

“My uncle Aidan had to take a Lego day off work [to help him],” Sheamie revealed, sparking a burst of laughter in the audience.

“And where does he work?” asked Kielty.

“I don’t want to be sayin’, I don’t want to be getting him into trouble,” he replied. “I had to take a Monday off myself from school.”

The conversation started off with Sheamie pointing out to Kielty what they had in common: “It’s both our first Toy Show, Patrick.”

Kielty quipped: “I think you’re having a better one that I am.”

However, there was unanimous agreement among the public online and the media that Patrick Kielty’s first outing as ‘Toy Man’ was a roaring success.

The 52-year-old dad of two boys, aged seven and five, proved that when it comes to dealing with unpredictable youngsters, he’s got the experience to take it all in his stride.

One of the stand-out moments of the night – and which saw Kielty become emotional – was making a dream come true for a young Tipperary girl called Sophie.

Patrick said that Sophie’s one and only dream was to come and see the Toy Show “which sounds simple, but it wasn’t as straightforward for her as she was in hospital a lot this year.”

Sophie was at a Toy Show viewing party in Dublin with her family and friends when Kielty sprung a surprise, telling her that there was transport outside to take her to the show.

When she arrived, Sophie was holding a toy unicorn named Uni, who she said was eight and had leukaemia.

She told Patrick that Uni didn’t have as much fur as another toy on the show as “all her’s got off because I hug her so much”.

There was another surprise for Sophie when Kielty told her that she was going to be heading to Disneyland in Orlando, Florida, to enjoy the trip of a lifetime with her family, flying first class with Aer Lingus.

Meanwhile, the Late Late Toy Show appeal raised €3.1 million for charity.