Eight-year-old Irish boy steals the show at Six Nations and leaves fans in floods of tears | Rugby | Sport


Ireland might have dominated the early going against Italy in the Six Nations but it was a young boy not involved in the game who had already stolen the show in Dublin. Eight-year-old Stevie Mulrooney sang the national anthem in front of a capacity crowd at the Aviva Stadium, and brought the house down with a superb rendition of ‘Ireland’s Call’.

 

Indeed, cameras panned to home supporters in tears as Mulrooney sang, with the Primary School pupil instantly becoming a social media sensation. Although it was anything but his first rodeo, already a member of the River Nore Music Academy with a huge future ahead of him.

But the Six Nations game undoubtedly signified his grandest stage to date. His opportunity came about in December when he got to meet Irish players Peter O’Mahony and Bundee Akii after singing the anthem on the annual Late Late Toy show, with Josh van der Flier then revealing he would have the chance to perform the anthem again at the Aviva Stadium on February 11.

Ahead of the game Stevie said: “My dad says nerves can be a good thing. There’s going to be so many people there and I just want them all to sing with me. I will have the microphone and I have done all the work to get ready.”

The praise was soon overflowing, with @robbo_anne posting: “That gorgeous boy belting out Ireland’s Call with so much passion is up their with the greatest rendition of a national anthem I’ve ever heard.”

@garethowen joked: “The kid singing the Irish national anthem has just unleashed the ancestry of my great great Irish grandparents. C’mon Ireland.” @AndyBarrow2012 added: “Kid singing the Irish anthem is a boss!”

Along with his singing, the youngster is also a rugby fanatic himself. He previously explained: “I can’t wait to meet more of the players because I am a big rugby fan.

“I play with Kilkenny RFC U8s, and even though we don’t really play with a Number 10, that’s where I’d like to play. Johnny Sexton is my all-time favourite player.”

His heroes certainly didn’t let him down. They secured a bonus point win over the Azzuri as they prevailed 36-0, with hooker George Sheehan scoring two tries, as winger James Lowe, flanker Jack Conan, No 10 Jack Crowley and replacement Calvin Nash also crossed.



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