Dancing with the Stars finalist Paudie Moloney has said making it to Sunday's final means "everything" after overcoming serious back problems, surpassing his own expectations, and winning support from viewers across the country.
The Traitors Ireland star will compete for the Glitterball trophy alongside professional partner Laura Nolan this weekend, having emerged as one of the standout contestants of the season.
Ahead of the final, Moloney reflected on the personal significance of reaching the last stage of the competition, admitting he never expected to get this far.
"I can't describe how much it means to me, to be honest," he said.
"How much it means to me to be dancing with this girl in the final, it's just... I said to Laura on the first day, 'Sorry, Laura, you're after getting me into this thing.'
"I didn't expect to be here beyond three or four episodes, to be perfectly honest.
"So what it means to me is everything."
Watch Paudie Moloney dance to Gangnam Style in the Dancing with the Stars semi-final
Moloney also opened up about the physical difficulties he faced before taking part in the show, revealing that in 2020, his back problems became so severe that he could barely walk across a room.
"I asked them not to operate because I didn't want an operation. But the doctor said, 'Look, at this stage, you're going to have no choice.'
"I couldn't walk a length in this room. It was gone that bad."
He said the surgery he underwent during the Covid-19 pandemic transformed his quality of life.
"I got it done nearly six years ago now, during Covid, actually, and I've never looked back," he said. "It's been the best thing I've ever done."
Throughout the series, Moloney has won over viewers with his humour, humility, and determination, and said he hopes people have seen the effort he has brought to every performance.
"I come out here, I put myself out in front of the whole country, I've done my very best, and it's the best to my ability," he said.
"So hopefully, that's the way people will see us. And people are seeing it that way at the moment, so I'll take that any day."
He also said he can see the difference in himself as a performer since the start of the series.
"I'm never going to be a dancer, but there is a bit of a transformation," he said.
"I actually know the names of the steps. When Laura calls out a step to me, I say, 'Oh yeah, no bother.'"
Nolan said Moloney's progress has been clear as the competition has continued.
"It's actually mad going over the dance for the judges' choice this week, and you can see a huge difference in how his body moves," she said.
"Now, it's not just about getting the steps. It's about how you do the steps. It's technique, it's performance, it's adding those layers."
The support for the pair has also continued to build ahead of the final, with Moloney saying the reaction from viewers has been extraordinary.
"It's been massive, the support," he said. "The amount of people, not just in Limerick or in Munster, that have come up to me all over the country.
"I've been getting cards in the post from people who want to wish me the best and tell me that I'm doing the seniors proud in this country. So I'll take that any day."
Moloney said he would love to lift the Glitterball trophy on Sunday night, but he remains grounded about the final result.
"I'd love to win it, of course, but that's not for me to do or say," he said. "Whatever happens, happens."
Moloney and Nolan will take to the floor one last time in Sunday's grand final as they bid to be crowned Dancing with the Stars champions.
Dancing with the Stars, 6:30pm, Sunday, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
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