A live RTE News broadcast was interrupted abruptly on Tuesday night when a young boy appeared on camera for a brief second swearing loudly before disappearing.
Ingrid Miley was delivering a live package to camera outside Tallaght University Hospital at the time when the child appeared behind her left shoulder and screamed what sounds like the words "dumb f******".
The reporter was talking about the health strike which will see 10,000 support staff nationwide picketing for 24 hours.
Ingrid continued on with the broadcast despite being caught off guard by the young boy who was dressed in a black hoodie.
The profanity was spotted by the eagle-eyed Mick O'Keeffe who managed to rewind the live bulletin and capture the millisecond swear.
He posted the clip on Twitter, which has already been seen thousands of times on Wednesday morning, with the caption: "Did this just happen?".
One person joked that the child had delivered the gag "perfectly" while another complimented Ingrid on her professionalism to get on with the broadcast as if nothing happened.
Someone added that the "the giggle in the background" was almost as amusing as the blooper itself.
A third commented that it was "nearly as bad as the antics on Sky Sports News during transfer deadline day".
Another said: "He seems like a pro in the making. Didn't flinch at all and looked straight down the camera. Love the wheezy giggle behind the camera too."
Thousands of HSE support staff at 38 hospitals nationwide will take part in industrial action which is set to last 24-hours.
The strike comes as there was no agreement to break the current dispute between SIPTU and health service management over pay.
There will be a disruption to scheduled impatient procedures, scopes and theatre activity all day on Wednesday.
As well as this, outpatient appointments and even catering will be affected because of the strike.
