RTE Late Late Show viewers hail 'iconic' Pat Spillane after appearance on GAA special

Pat Spillane was among the guests on Friday night's Late Late Show, which was dedicated to the GAA.

The Kerry legend told of his love of the GAA, but also gave his view on the current state of Gaelic football as he highlighted statistics from last year's All-Ireland football final.

He said: "I don't take anything away from Armagh and it was brilliant to see Jarlath [Burns, GAA President] hugging his son at the end of the game because that's family but I looked at the statistics for last year's All-Ireland football final.

"97 kick passes, 592 hand passes. 500 more handpasses than kick passes and you are saying Gaelic football? This is not gaelic football at all, this is handball."

He added: "Do you remember when they brought the blasphemous film to Craggy Island and Dougal and Ted had a protest?

"I felt like taking Father Ted's placard from that day and walking across Croke Park with 'Down With This Sort Of Thing'."

Spillane was a spectator at the game and revealed how he found himself watching a seagull on the pitch more than the game itself.

He explained: "The longer I was watching the game in the first-half, I was drawn to the fact that there was a seagull on one side of the field.

"I got obsessed with the seagull. I Googled, 'are seagulls an intelligent bird?

"It said seagulls are much smarter than you think and in actual fact seagulls are the most intelligent of all birds.

"This bird knew damn well because there was no danger of the ball being kicked down the other end of the field."

Viewers took to social media to hail Spillane, who turned 69 last month. One wrote: "Really enjoying Pat Spillane on @RTELateLateShow. So refreshing to listen to."

Another commented: "I know people can have their say about Pat Spillane, but I have to say I love his passion and how drifts off on conversation."

Someone else said: "Pat Spillane being his iconic self. He's absolutely right that #GAA is about family, community & Parish."

"Pat Spillane is the epitome of Kerry. Love that man. Legend," read another comment.

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