RTÉ sports commentator George Hamilton, current affairs broadcaster Bryan Dobson and comedian Mario Rosenstock are among the guest stars who are set to take part in a new RTÉjr Radio podcast drama about a little girl whose World Cup dream comes true.
Romy's World Cup Wish is a five-part radio drama and episode 1 dropped earlier today, followed by a new episode every Monday until World Cup Final day on Sunday 18 December.
Tony O'Donoghue, Sharon Tobin, Des Cahill, Reem El -Hassany and Jacqui Hurley have also lined out to make cameos as themselves for the show.
The new series tells the story of Romy Kelly, a little girl with a big wish - what if Ireland qualified for the World Cup again?
10-year-old Romy lives with her football-mad family and her father happens to be the kit-man for the Irish football team. So, when her wish comes true, all hell breaks loose.
We follow Romy and her little brother as they accompany their dad to the tournament. As the Irish team progresses through the group stage, could Italia 90 happen again? Could we see pens flying across studio desks in RTÉ?
Romy is played by Sadhbh Marshall Coghlan and newcomer Roy Mac Giolla Phádraig is her long-suffering brother Elliott.
Mario Rosenstock plays Romy’s inner voices - Obi-Roy-Keano-Boi and Graeme (Souness). He also voices Stephen Kenny, Richie Sadlier, Brian Kerr and Eamon Dunphy.
The show was written by Karl Harpur, a writer, director, producer and actor creating children’s content for television, theatre and podcast, whose credits include The Dastardly Deeds of Professor Nasty and Storybud on RTÉjr.
Romy’s World Cup Wish is based on an original idea by Eimear O’Mahony, Executive Producer RTÉ Young People’s Department.
"I remember watching Ireland in Italia 90 as a child and the joy that gave me," she says. "I think this drama is a way of recreating that feeling of following Ireland at a tournament abroad.
"Karl has really captured that feeling and written a really funny drama that’s also full of heart. Have your inflatable shamrocks ready when you listen to this!"
Listen to Romy’s World Cup Wish on RTÉjr Radio, or wherever you get your podcasts from Monday 21 November.
