RTÉ Listeners in Stitches as Daithí Ó Sé and Daniel O’Donnell Playfully Clash Ahead of All-Ireland Final
It was pure Irish comedy on the airwaves this morning as Daithí Ó Sé and Daniel O’Donnell went head-to-head in a hilarious exchange ahead of this weekend’s All-Ireland Football Final, leaving RTÉ Radio 1 listeners laughing uncontrollably. The beloved duo — each fiercely loyal to their home counties — turned a friendly chat on The Oliver Callan Show into a full-on battle of wit, pride, and good-natured teasing.
With Kerry and Donegal set to face off for the Sam Maguire Cup, both men came prepared for verbal sparring. Daniel, the ever-proud Donegal native, wasted no time throwing the first playful jab. “The Sam Maguire has its bags packed to go to Donegal,” he declared, his voice full of confidence. “I have to go to the Kingdom at the end of August for shows in Killarney, and I don’t want to be introduced to Sam as a Kerry resident — it’s all or nothing!”
He then jokingly pleaded with Donegal’s manager Jim McGuinness: “I have to lay it down to Jim and the team — for my sake, if nobody else’s — they have to take Sam back to Donegal.”
Quick to return the fire, Kerry’s own Daithí Ó Sé burst out laughing. “You might have the songs,” he said, “but I’ll tell you this — Kerry’s got the football!” When asked whether he had a ticket for the big match, Daithí replied with his trademark mischief: “No ticket yet, but I’ll get one Saturday night in Coppers at four in the morning — from some Donegal fella who’ll be wilting!”
The studio erupted in laughter as the two national treasures traded jabs. Daithí even joked that Kerry fans have already written a new anthem to greet Daniel when he returns to perform in Killarney’s INEC Arena after the final. “They’ve got a new song ready for him,” Daithí teased. “It’s called Jimmy’s Scratching A**es! I’ll text you the lyrics later, Daniel — you’d better start rehearsing!”
Host Oliver Callan could barely contain his laughter as the playful banter continued, his microphone picking up the sound of him gasping for breath between chuckles. The friendly feud had everyone in stitches, and social media lit up soon after the broadcast. Clips of the exchange flooded Instagram and Twitter, with fans posting laughing emojis and calling it “the best bit of craic on radio all week.”
But as always, Daniel O’Donnell — ever the gentleman — brought the conversation to a gracious close. “All joking aside,” he said warmly, “my hope is that both teams come out and leave everything on the pitch in Croke Park. Whoever wins, I hope the other team can still be proud of what they did. If both sides play the way they can, it’ll be the game of all games.”
The moment captured everything people love about both men — Daithí’s quick wit, Daniel’s charm, and the uniquely Irish way of mixing rivalry with respect. It was a radio moment that reminded everyone why these two remain national treasures: they can make the country laugh, bring people together, and still leave everyone smiling — no matter who takes home the Sam Maguire Cup.
As one fan commented online, “Daithí and Daniel should have their own show — Ireland needs that kind of craic every morning!”