Eamon Dunphy has revealed the truth behind his infamous suspension from RTE during the 2002 World Cup.
The controversial broadcaster was memorably suspended after appearing drunk live on air during the station’s coverage of a group stage match.
And now Eamon has given the full story behind his “most adventurous” night out.
He told Mario’s Sunday Roast on Today FM: “The night before I’d been on with John Giles and Ray Houghton. We said we would go for a bite to eat afterwards and then we said we’d kick on to Lillie’s.
“I was supposed to be in RTE the next day at 6.30am, we were on air at 7.30am and Japan were playing Russia at 8am.
Eamon Dunphy blasts John Delaney as pressure mounts on FAI chief
“John came to Lillie’s with us and had his few Bacardi’s and legged it at about one o’clock.
“Lillie’s didn’t close until five, and because I’d consumed all kinds of things that weekend and my wife was away, I got home at 4.15am high as a kite.
“I have to be up now at half five, if I go to sleep I’m not going to get up, I don’t go to sleep.
“Next thing the taxi rings, I’m thinking I’m ok I can carry this off. I get into RTE, go into makeup. There is a little smell but the makeup girls are great.”
However Eamon admitted his greatest challenge that morning was with co-pundit Gerry Armstrong and his flamboyant hairstyle.
He continued: “The thing about Gerry was - and this is quite startling if you’re hungover - is that he’d died his hair orange. So I said to someone: ‘Have you got a pair of sunglasses?’”
“Anyway the game kicked off, I’d been on, given my prediction, and all was well.
FAI to carry out 'urgent independent review' but do not mention John Delaney in latest statement
“I got a cup of coffee, and then I sat with the crew, because I didn’t like to look at Gerry’s hair. Every time I saw Gerry’s hair I started giggling.
“About 15 minutes into the game I get a tap on the shoulder and it’s Ryle Nugent. He said: ‘Look Eamon, you have to go home, I’ll drive you.’”
“I went to bed, it was about half 9, I fell asleep. Next thing, there’s a terrible banging on the door. It’s 1 o’clock, and it’s a camera crew from the RTE Six One News.
“The next day every tabloid in the country had ‘RTE analyst disappears mid-programme’.
“So that was the most adventurous, or consequential, night out I’ve had.”
