Ladies of Ireland, contain yourselves.
That’s right, the female population of this country might be opting to spend a lot more Saturday nights indoors in the future on the back of revelations on the front page of this morning’s Irish Sun that RTE bosses are going to replace Marty Whelan as the host of winning streak with beloved GAA commentator Marty Morrissey.
Thursday’s Irish Sun front page pic.twitter.com/3C4o34dvnE
— Mike Hogan (@MikeHogan4FM) March 5, 2014
The report in The Sun suggests that RTE are looking to tap into a more youthful, go-getting audience by replacing silver fox Whelan, 57, with Morrissey, a full four years his junior.
An RTE source told The Sun: “Winning Streak celebrate 25 years on air next year but it needs to lose the blue rinse brigade and connect with a younger audience.”
“Kids go to Halloween parties with orange faces dressed up as Marty. Young people love him,” the source added.
The report adds that the news will come as a crushing blow to Whelan, who recently underwent hair transplant surgery to aid his appearance and in an effort to stay relevant in the ruthlessly judgemental industry he works in.
How the move will affect Marty’s GAA broadcasting commitments if it goes ahead remains to be seen, but surely it can only help his already sterling reputation with the female population of this country.
And if anyone is any doubt about Marty’s awareness of his own appeal to the fairer sex, then have a listen to the opening gambit of a brilliant speech he made at the Castlehaven GAA club dinner dance a little earlier this year.
Saturday nights in just got interesting.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
