The Traitors Ireland star Paudie Moloney has said he is immensely grateful for the support of his family and the public since joining Dancing with the Stars, revealing that his grandchildren are “very invested” in his journey on the show.
The retired prison officer, who is about to turn 69, said his ten grandchildren are among his biggest supporters and follow his performances closely each week.
“I was actually speaking to one of my grandkids recently,” he told RTÉ Entertainment. “She’s 14 and a very accomplished Irish dancer. She was asking me what steps I was doing this week and I was showing her the whisk – which she picked up very fast – and she was thrilled.”
He added: “The grandkids are very invested – as are my own children – and they’re very good with social media and the whole lot for me. They are loving it and I’m enjoying it.”
Paudie Moloney says he’s grateful for the public’s support
Moloney’s professional dance partner, Laura Nolan, said it has been heartwarming to see his family beaming with pride in the audience each week.
But it is not only his relatives cheering him on. Moloney said members of the public have also stopped him to share their support.
“I met a couple on Grafton Street last week – two people from West Cork,” he said. “They told me that every Sunday night at 6:30pm, they gather with their son, his wife and the grandchildren in one house to watch Dancing with the Stars and vote for Paudie, so happy days,” he laughed.
With his 70th birthday on the horizon, Moloney said he has no plans for major celebrations.
“I just hope I get to the big 7-0; that’s a real thing,” he said. “At this age, you just hope tomorrow is there. I won’t be having big parties or big celebrations. I’ll just get on with it.”
Nolan, however, hinted she may have other ideas. “He says that now,” she joked, “but I keep trying to sow the seed of Paudie and Laura on tour.”
Dancing with the Stars, Sundays, RTÉ One and RTÉ Player, 6:30pm