Four kids with Offaly connections to feature on tonight’s Toy Show
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Four children with Offaly connections will take part in The Late Late Toy Show this evening (Friday) as the popular Christmas special marks the beginning of the festive season in many households.
Three students from the Edenderry-based drama school Believe Performing Arts, Grace, Ben, and Charlotte Mee, who are siblings from Carbury, 10 minutes from Edenderry, will take part in the most-watched Irish TV show of the year.
The siblings’ mother, Roisin, said they were looking forward to a “magical” experience when they appear on a special needs segment of the show. “Our son (Ben) has Down Syndrome, Grace is his twin, and Charlotte is his big sister,” said Roisin.
In a social media post, Believe Performing Arts said: "We cannot wait to see three of our students make an appearance on The Late Late Toy Show this week! We are so proud of you."
The fourth local child taking part in the Toy Show fun is nine-year-old Cormac Brady, from Killyon, just outside of Edenderry, a second class student at Killyon NS.
“This is a massive opportunity for him, and this kid was born to perform! We already love talking about and watching the Toy Show in our school," read a post by Killyon NS.
"It will be extra special this year as we will be watching Cormac perform and we will all be cheering him on from behind our television screens. Well done Cormac, we are so so proud of you.”
Cormac's piano and singing teacher Amy Smullen said: “A huge congratulations to Cormac my wonderfully talented student, who will be appearing on the Late Late Toy Show. “This is an incredible achievement, and we are all so proud of you. We can’t wait to see you perform on the big night.”
The Late Late Toy Show will air on RTÉ One and the RTÉ Player at 9.35pm with Patrick Kielty returning for his third year as host.
To date, Kielty has selected themes inspired by box office hit Christmas movies, with his catalogue so far including his Elf show in 2023 and Home Alone in 2024.