The young boy who delivered that incredible performance of Ireland’s Call ahead of Ireland’s RBS Six Nations Rugby match against Italy at the weekend, has said that he “didn’t feel a little bit nervous” when he got into the song.
8 year old Stevie Mulrooney from Kilkenny, who performed in front of 50,000 fans at the Aviva Stadium pre match, had also revealed that he only practised five times.
Mulrooney was invited to perform by Ireland flanker Josh van der flier, and delivered his rendition of the song, after Jennifer Dalton had sung Amhrán bhFiann and the Italian anthem.
“I remember the big crowds that scared the life out of me,” Mulrooney said in an interview. “I loved it”.
“When I got into the song, I didn’t feel a little bit nervous”.
“crazy”
Elsewhere, Mr Mulrooney also revealed that he had met the Irish Rugby side the day before the match.
“I did meet them one day before the match,” Stevie stated.
“It was great. There’s lots of special boxes but you weren’t allowed to take pictures. It was crazy for me because I brought my phone”.
This included meeting the youngster’s two favourite players Bundee Aki and Peter O’Mahony, whom he had previously met on the Late Late Toy Show last year.
On that occasion, Stevie also performed Ireland’s Call.
Ireland won the match, beating Italy 36-0, keeping their hopes of another Grand Slam alive, and their performance was also praised by Mulrooney.
“It was brilliant, they played great, Italy are a good team, but fair play to Ireland”, he said.
So many people to thank
Stevie’s father Seamus Mulrooney stated that there are so many people to thank for helping his son to prepare for this big day.
“From River Nore Music Academy, where he started his singing lessons, to one of his mentors Sylvia Knox who prepared him for the day”, Mr Mulrooney said.
“We have to thank Captain John Carpenter as well from the band who made them feel so at ease”, he added.
“Thank you to Jennifer Dalton who sang both the national anthems because she really kept him calm on the day which was wonderful and we really appreciate it, she was fantastic herself”.
“This kid’s got it all”
Unsurprisingly, this rendition did not go unnoticed, with Mulrooney’s performance coming in for particular praise from Ireland coach Andy Farrell and Late Late Show host Patrick Kielty.
“This kid’s got it all”, Farrell said of Mulrooney.
Meanwhile, Patrick Kielty wrote on X, “Knocking it out of da park. Never in doubt Stevie! Go get ‘em our Kid”.
When asked about where young Stevie may have got his musical flair from, Mr Mulrooney speculated that his grandfather and mother may have passed that down.
“Not from me anyway, that’s for sure”, he said. “Maybe his mom, I’ve heard her sing in the shower and she’s a lot better than I am”.
“We have a little bit of music background from my dad, who’s into traditional music and he used to play many years ago”.
He even joked that this musical talent may have “skipped a generation”.
