It was an exciting day in Croke Park yesterday, as Dublin and Kerry went head to head in the All-Ireland football final.
But off-the-pitch things were just as exciting as Paul Mescal, Dara Ó Briain, Adrian Dunbar and Patrick Kielty were spotted enjoying the match in the stands.
The group were nabbed for an interview by BBC Sports, where the all shared their love of Gaelic football.
The interviewer asked actor Paul: “You played at a very, very high level. How big a part was Gaelic football of your childhood? Because you actually lined-out against quite a few of these Dublin players.”
“Yeah, for my sins,” the Aftersun star joked. “As it was, probably for the lot of us, it was the defining factor of my childhood and teenage years.”
Explaining how he missed the game, and why he quit playing, the Kildare man said: “The world of acting and Gaelic football don’t seem to match up very well,” as someone shouted: “The face, the face!” with Paul laughing while he replied: “The face, I broke my jaw two days before starting my final year of drama school and that was the nail in the coffin.”
@bbcsport Who knew that Paul Mescal had such a sporty background? 🤯 He was in the crowd for the All-Ireland final between Dublin and Kerry. #PaulMescal #ConnellsChain #NormalPeople #BBCGAA #GaelicFootball #Ireland #PaulMescalEdit #Mescalites ♬ original sound – BBC Sport
While comedian Patrick explained the importance of the event, claiming: “This is the Irish Super Bowl.”
“What an amazing occasion. Anyone watching their first Gaelic football match today, this is why we love it,” he added.
While fellow comedian Dara joked about his preference for hurling: “I would even say this compares to the hurling. And I’m quite snobby about the hurling,
Meanwhile actor Adrian shared his commiserations with the Kerry team as his brother-in-law, is from Ballybunion.
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Dara also praised the Sinéad O’Connor tribute that was held before the match.
The crowd in Croke Park took a moment to appreciate the late singer, who passed away earlier this week, with the Nothing Compares 2 U music video playing in the stadium.
“It’s a thing that’s very typical of a thing that would happen in Ireland, and a thing that would happen in the GAA because it’s as accurate a snapshot as you’ll ever see of this entire population.”
“I’ve seen them applaud Seamus Heaney when he died, here, and they just stopped to listen to Sinéad O’Connor because the country is in mourning still, still in shock and mourning at the death of Sinéad because we all knew her and all loved her.”
“And it’s as good a spot as any to find all over Ireland together to mark that. I’m delighted they did it but I think we’re all taken by the emotion of it before the game,” Dara explained.
Needless to say fans were thrilled to the stars in the crowd, and took to social media to share their excitement.
BBCNI having dara o’briain, paddy kielty, paul mescal and adrian dunbar on their outside panel in the stadium – so funny, like excited school boys. Dara spoke so well about Sinead too.
— Fiona Quigley (@FionaQuigs) July 30, 2023
I’m sorry but whoever in BBC put together a panel of Paul Mescal, Adrian Dunbar, Paddy Kielty and Dara Ó Briain is an actual genius I was in stitches https://t.co/lsk9FeH9m8
— Cormac Savage (@CormacSavage_) July 30, 2023
Paul Mescal, Dara O’Briain, Adrian Dunbar & Paddy Kielty bringing the #AllirelandFootballFinal buzz to a UK-wide audience. Well played @BBCSport @BBCSPORTNI 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/nCsLDCQrA4
— Mary McVey (@MaryMackers) July 30, 2023
Dara Ó Briain, Adrian Dunbar, Patrick Kielty, and Paul Mescal all on BBC2 now talking about the football. That’s some line-up. #AllirelandFootballFinal
— Denise (@deniseaoc) July 30, 2023
Watching the All Ireland Senior Football Final on BBC2, (never watched any before) and they’ve got Paul Mescal, Dara O’Briain, Patrick Kielty and Adrian Dunbar all in a box watching, all the lads together. Fantastic stuff.
— hollybaleen.bsky.social (@HollyBaleen) July 30, 2023
