A SIX-YEAR-OLD golf fanatic from Belgooly followed in his musical mother’s footsteps winning the hearts of the nation on Friday’s Late Late Toy Show.

Declan Ryan opened the show, which was watched by 1.7m people globally, winning over host Patrick Kielty with his infectious enthusiasm around all things golf – even successfully putting a shot in his old potty on live TV.

He was keeping up a family tradition as his mum, pianist Mary McCague, played  Shostakovich’s The Clockwork Doll on the show in 1989 aged eight, when it was presented by Gay Byrne.

Like thousands of children around the country, Declan auditioned to be on the iconic show when the national call out was made, and couldn’t believe his luck when he was chosen.

He couldn’t believe his luck either when he got a special video message from his hero Shane Lowry on the night, who invited him to spend the day with him at the Irish Open. He was also gifted a signed flag of the entire European Ryder Cup team.

Declan’s love of golf started when his grandparents gifted him a plastic set of clubs for Christmas when he was four.

‘He absolutely loved it and we got him a real set for his sixth birthday.

He’s out in his pyjamas after breakfast practising every morning and loves nothing more than going to the driving range in Kinsale. His dream is to win 19 majors, and beating Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18,’ said his dad Fintan.

‘When he came backstage to me after being on with Patrick Kielty, the first thing he said to me was “can you believe Shane Lowry is a fan of mine too?” and he said it was the best night of his life,’ added Fintan.

Mary was watching from the US where she’s touring with her group Everdream. Their daughter Emma (9) also made headlines when she became a lockdown star during the pandemic when a video of her singing Danny Boy at the Old Head went viral globally when she was only four. Her latest music video is being released this week called In the Bleak Mid-Winter.