Watch: Patrick Kielty tells Toy Show viewers to ‘hold kids close’ following violence in Dublin

After the opening performance of 'Santa Claus is Coming To Town', the host touched upon recent events in Dublin and said he is 'thinking of every family who needs an extra hug tonight'

Patrick Kielty pictured during the opening of the Late Late Toy Show. Picture: Andres Poveda / RTÉ

As the Late Late Toy Show’s opening music played, there was undoubtedly a hush in living rooms nationwide as anxious parents held their children a little tighter with Thursday’s horrendous events in Dublin still fresh in their minds. 

At such a tense time in the country, families across Ireland turned to the Toy Show for some much-needed light relief on Friday night and host Patrick Kielty was ready to deliver it.