Ryan Tubridy took a risk this morning as he weighed in on an issue that's carved a bitter divide through the country – the dryrobe.
The RTE star was audibly bemused on radio this morning by the level of debate created by the dryrobe – an enhanced, and expensive, version of the plain old towel.
"Suddenly it's become a thing," said a baffled Tubs, who described it to listeners as a "sleeping bag-type thing that you put on you when you get out of the sea.
"But now it's become a bit of a status symbol – people are wearing it to go down to the shop, and come back, and no water was harmed in the making of this wearing of the dryrobe.
"It seems to be driving a lot of people mad."
It's hard to disagree with Tubridy's assessment of the situation, amid ongoing spats between dryrobers and those who wouldn't be seen dead wearing one.
At the Forty Foot in Dublin, for instance, warning signs have been erected in recent weeks that warn: "By order: No Dryrobe or Dryrobe types."
Another read: "Warning! Bathers are advised that sightings of Dryrobe w*nkers have increased in this area."
For Tubs, the whole thing amounts to little more than a whole lot of hot air, with the 47-year-old opting not to take a side in the great debate.
"I don't understand the fuss, but when somebody points one out to you, you can't stop seeing it," said Tubs.
"They're everywhere."
After touching on the dryrobe debate, Tubridy brought tidings more likely to unite his listeners – with a welcome update ahead of this Friday's Late Late Toy Show.
"This is going to be an exceptionally crazy week," he said.
"I was up at the crack of dawn this morning, with the excitement of it all.
"Such is the nature of it all – it brings out the Christmas Eve child in me, anyway."
