'A dream come true': Roy Keane surprises elderly fan at Mercy Hospital in Cork

The former Ireland and Manchester United legend took time on Wednesday to visit Pat O'Sullivan, 78, who has dementia and is in care at the Mercy Hospital in Cork

Former Ireland and Manchester United legend Roy Keane visits Pat O'Sullivan in the Mercy Hospital in Cork

Who says Roy Keane doesn’t have a soft side?

The former Ireland and Manchester United legend has made an elderly fan’s day — or even year —when he paid him a surprise visit in hospital this week.

Pat O’Sullivan, 78, has dementia and was being treated in the Mercy Hospital in Cork. His son Rob rang the Breakfast with KC show on RedFM in the hope of getting a message to his father’s hero.

And what happened next will have everyone scrambling for the box of tissues.

Keane showed up unannounced to Pat’s room at the Mercy Hospital where he spent quality time with Pat, offering some words of encouragement and reminiscing about his own time growing up in Mayfield.

Rob said his dad cried twice during the visit he was so overcome with emotion at meeting his hero.

“Roy Keane walked into my dad’s room, face to face, and shook his hand”, Rob told RedFM. “For him to come and visit, take time out of his schedule or his personal time to see my dad, sit with him, go back and forward with stories. You have no idea, it still feels like a dream.

Rob said his dad was in "shock and awe" upon meeting his hero

“When I looked at him face to face, I was in awe. I cannot believe he is right in front of me and about to make my dad’s dream come true.

“Since we last spoke my dad’s speech has gone really bad. It was perfect because they were able to have a bit of a conversation, my dad looked at him, he was staring at him, and he just couldn’t believe his friend was sitting next to him”.

When asked if Pat and Keane had had a pint together, Rob replied “He didn’t drink anything, just to let you know”, but when he saw the non-alcoholic beverage coming his way he exclaimed “do me a favour!” in true Keane fashion.

Rob told the Irish Examiner that his dad was in “shock and awe”.

“My dad sees Roy as a real gent and a real straight talker who says it as it is”, Rob said. “He stayed for a full 30 mins or so chatting to my dad, it was incredible”

Keane poses for pictures with the O'Sullivan family

Rob told the story of when his dad first met Keane and introduced Rob to the former Ireland captain.

“He was drinking at the Temple Acre which is our local and Roy showed up to the pub, this was around 1994, when he had just signed for Manchester United. I was only about ten I’d say”.

“Roy signed a load of autographs and bought my dad a pint, something we would never forget”.