Patrick Kielty has earned plaudits for an emotional conclusion to Friday's Late Late Show, in which he delivered a poignant monologue on the conflict ongoing between Israel and Palestine.
A decades-long conflict was escalated last week by a huge assault on Israel by Palestinian insurgent group Hamas, before Israel formally declared war on the militant group and launched sieges on the territory of Gaza.
It is a conflict that has touched many on Irish shores for years, and there has naturally been an enormous reaction to the horrific scenes ongoing on the Gaza Strip and in Israel.
Given the recent history of conflict on this island during the Troubles, it is a story that hits close to home for many either side of the border and, on Friday's Late Late Show, host Patrick Kielty summed up the urgent desire for peace in beautiful fashion with a poignant closing monologue.
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Patrick Kielty nails emotional Late Late Show closer on Israel-Palestine conflict
County Down man Patrick Kielty lost his father during the Troubles, when John Kielty was shot dead by the Ulster Freedom Fighters in 1988, when Patrick was just 16 years old.
Kielty, like so many, saw his life changed utterly by the violence in Northern Ireland in the late 20th century and, in a touching closer to Friday's Late Late Show, he upheld the "miracle" of peace on this island as a beacon of hope for those living through the conflict in Israel.
“We need to remember we are living in our own miracle.”#LateLate pic.twitter.com/htYBoFcUdN
— The Late Late Show (@RTELateLateShow) October 14, 2023
Kielty expressed condolences for Irish-Israeli woman Kim Damti, who was killed by Hamas strikes on a music festival in Israel last week, before sharing his condolences for families whose lives had been "ripped apart" by the ongoing violence.
The RTÉ host went on to note that, at points during the previous century, it had appeared hopeless that peace would ever arrive in Northern Ireland, and poignantly remembered the "miracle" that the region has mostly been at peace for the past 25 years - and said that he prayed the same peace would arrive for the people of Palestine and Israel:
There are no words that will even touch the sides on the pain and the loss and the ongoing horror that's been felt by so many tonight.
But, as someone who grew up during a conflict where the rights and wrongs of politics were always writ large, one common truth was that the hurt and the pain on both sides was sadly the same.
We all shared something but we just didn't realise it at the time. There were days when we thought it would never end.
Tonight, there are many parents and children in Israel and in Gaza who also think that this will never end, and are praying for a miracle to make it stop.
In the midst of despair, miracles are hard to believe in, but it's worth remembering that we are currently living our own miracle on this island, because we are living in peace.
For all those in Israel and Palestine tonight, it mightn't seem like it, but there's always hope, and we hope that your miracle comes soon.
Kielty's beautiful monologue touched many Late Late Show viewers, and several took to social media to praise the host.
You've got to love Patrick Kielty,
he nailed his closing words on Israel / Palestine on The Late Late show
For those unaware his Dad John was shot dead by the UFF during The Troubles in N Ireland
He knows what he's talking about and his words were powerful here. Kudos to him! pic.twitter.com/nc12fjaAMC— HJG 𓂀 (@speirin) October 13, 2023
Well said Patrick Kielty.
As we watch from afar, horrified that this can be happening, these words, from someone who lived through the troubles are very heartfelt.
pic.twitter.com/vc1sYpa3Wq— Jemma Forte (@jemmaforte) October 14, 2023
That final 30 seconds of the @RTELateLateShow show just how good Patrick Kielty is. Reflects the horror of what’s happening in the Middle East and the hope that peace is always possible.
— Gareth Noble (@GarNob) October 13, 2023
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