Ahead of The Late Late Show returning tonight on RTÉ One, we've rounded up some of the most talked-about and unforgettable moments from last season's stellar line-up.
1. Late Late Show guests share special memories of Gay Byrne
It was a night filled with laughs, love and tears as friends, colleagues, previous guests and famous faces gathered together in The Late Late Show studio to remember and pay tribute to legendary broadcaster Gay Byrne, who passed away at the age of 85 on after a long illness.
President Michael D Higgins praised Gay for creating, "a safe, non-judgmental space where you could begin to think in a modern way. He was very fair and I think that was impressive."
Pat Kenny, who hosted The Late Late Show from 1999 - 2009, told a story of how he once attempted to kidnap Gay.
Bono recalled the night that U2 gave Gay a Harley Davidson on the veteran broadcaster's final night as host of The Late Late Show in 1999. Speaking on the phone from Australia Bono joked that "it was a nice thing to have Gay join the Hell's Angels".
An impressive line-up of Irish artists including John Sheahan, Andrea Corr, Mary Black, Donal Lunny and Sharon Shannon were also in The Late Late studio to honour Gay.
2. Roy Keane gets his answer on The Late Late
Roy Keane was, for once, lost for words when he met ten-year-old Manchester United fan, Daragh Curley.
The Donegal youngster made headlines after he wrote to Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, asking him to stop the Merseyside club winning matches - and receiving a reply from the manager.
During the show Daragh was introduced to Manchester United legend Keane and asked him: "What was your dream when you were a kid?"
After Keane explained that his dream was "to play football for a living", he asked Daragh: "What's your dream?"
"To be a professional rugby player," Daragh replied.
The audience erupted - watch the fun below:
3. Niall Horan and "the box of Ireland"
Former One Direction member and now solo star Niall Horan told Ryan that he likes to "keep it Irish" when he's on tour and usually keeps "a box of Ireland" in his dressing room.
Accepting a hamper of Irish goodies, which included rashers, crisps, and biscuits, Tubridy asked Niall what he missed most about Ireland when he was away.
"Chicken fillet rolls. When I go home [to London] I bring bags of rock shandy home with me, Club Orange. Keeping it country," he said.
Speaking about "the box of Ireland", which includes flags and jerseys, that he keeps in his dressing room while on tour, the 26-year-old Mullingar man said: "There's always bits lying around. Someone will give me an Ireland football or rugby jersey. It's great, it’s nice to keep it Irish."
4. Hozier performs The Parting Glass in honour of Covid-19 victims
Hozier performed an emotional and hauntingly beautiful rendition of The Parting Glass when he appeared on The Late Late in March and dedicated the performance to those who had lost their lives to coronavirus.
The singer appeared on the show to launch an emergency on-air appeal for the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, who at the time were experiencing an upsurge in calls to Childline.
While on the show, he spoke about how he got involved with the charity and his commitment to the organisation. He also performed Shrike and Take Me to Church on the night.
5. Sinéad O'Connor melts hearts on Late Late Show with Nothing Compares 2 U
Sinéad O'Connor melted hearts with her performance of Nothing Compares 2 U.
"So now we're in for a treat," host Ryan Tubridy told the audience.
"It's one of the absolute privileges of the job that I get close to magnificent people like you and Christy Moore and Glen Hansard, all the great singers. And for you to be sitting here with us and the wonderful [Irish] Chamber Orchestra and singing Nothing Compares 2 U is an honour, so thank you so much for doing that."
"Not at all," replied O'Connor before taking to the stage.
She had earlier told Tubridy she was "enjoying the feeling" of being back performing again.
6. Rosanna Davison shares her surrogacy journey
In February, Rosanna Davison spoke about her surrogacy journey saying nothing could have prepared her for how she felt watching her child being born.
Davison and her husband Wes Quirke became parents in November 2019 when their daughter Sophia was born.
The couple had gone through 14 early miscarriages before deciding that surrogacy was something they were going to do.
The decision was not one they took lightly, "The idea of a stranger carrying your child in another country was awful. I played with the idea for a few weeks, to be honest, I wasn't sure if we could go ahead with it," she told Tubridy in a candid chat.
In July of this year Davison announced that she and her hubby are expecting twins.
7. Munster's Billy Holland and wife Lanlih's fantastic fundraiser
Billy and Lanlih spoke to Ryan about the phenomenal care their baby daughter Emmeline had received at CHI at Crumlin before losing her battle to survive last year at just six months old.
They had hoped to raise €100,000 through their Brave Like Emmeline Holland fundraiser but donations to the page soared following their fundraising appeal on air, with over €300,000 donating to the amazing cause.
The couple divided the funds raised between CHI at Crumlin, Cork University Hospital (children's wards) and the Ronald McDonald House.
Munster rugby player @billyholland & his wife Lanlih on the huge support from Crumlin's medical teams for their daughter Emmeline who passed away aged just 6 months. They are fundraising in honour of their brave baby girl: https://t.co/SFCbSzW1eL #BravelikeEmmeline #LateLate pic.twitter.com/aC2mlEyDVR
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) January 24, 2020
In March, the couple showcased their bouncing baby boy, Matthew Conor Holland, on The Late Late.
You can catch the new series of The Late Late Show, on Friday, September 4 on RTÉ One, 9:35pm.
