The GAA Catfish is the story everyone is talking about right now.
In the latest two episodes of The 2 Johnnies podcast, Johnny B shared his story of being catfished online earlier this year.
He told listeners: “Last year, I became single. It’s never easy, no matter what way it goes. And in January, around Christmas time, this girl follows me on Instagram.”
The RTÉ 2FM presenter continued: “She’s absolutely stunning, drop-dead gorgeous. She’s from Limerick, has 15k followers and is followed by a few people I know personally and is followed by a few well-known people from the industry, from showbiz.”
“So, one night I’m looking at her stories and I said, go on. I’ll send her an old DM.”
Johnny B spent weeks texting and sending voice messages to the “Cora O’Donovan” account but every time they tried to meet up in person, she pulled out last minute and came up with different excuses.
On one occasion, she claimed her aunt had died suddenly and another time, she said she had tested positive for Covid-19.
Just listened to the @the2johnnies’s incredible GAA Catfish story on their podcast. Just wild stuff.
— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) May 25, 2022
Johnny B and Johnny Smacks came to the conclusion that the “Cora” account was fake, and that the woman behind it was running a number of fake profiles.
Johnny B said: “I consider myself reasonably intelligent, but in this story I was very much taken for a fool.”
In part 2 of the podcast, The 2 Johnnies revealed that over 40 individuals – including GAA players and media personalities – have been catfished by the fake accounts.
Johnny Smacks said: “Here’s the thing. This is something that you see on Catfish the television show and you think ‘that only happens in America’. This has happened in Ireland to a lot of people and a lot of people that we all know in the entertainment industry in the GAA, everywhere.”
What the hell @thetwojonnies #gaacatfish where does she get THE TIME to be 19 People !!!??!?!
— Joanne McNally (@jomcnally) May 24, 2022
The hashtag #GAAcatfish has been trending on Twitter in Ireland ever since the release of the two-part podcast, with many calling the story “wild”.
Comedian Dara Ó Briain tweeted: “Just listened to the @the2johnnies’s incredible GAA Catfish story on their podcast. Just wild stuff.”
Another listener wrote: “The #GAACatfish saga is the most chaotic Irish Pop Culture moment since Nadine Coyle lied about her age on Popstars (and that’s a fact).”
A third penned: “Netflix should buy the rights to make a series on The 2 Johnnies #GAAcatfish. Absolutely bananas stuff.”
The #GAACatfish saga is the most chaotic Irish Pop Culture moment since Nadine Coyle lied about her age on Popstars (and that’s a fact).
— Elaine Murphy (@ElaineMurphy_) May 25, 2022
Netflix should buy the rights to make a series on The 2 Johnnies #GAAcatfish. Absolutely bananas stuff
— Tomás Keating (@MossBoxx) May 24, 2022
I hope who ever made this has a fabulous week. I was close to getting the pen and paper out to try keep up #Gaacatfish pic.twitter.com/UfrqJ24LeP
— Ciara Murphy (@Ciara_Murphy_x) May 24, 2022
GAA Catfish is still living in my head rent free. Death notices, diabetic comas, Liverpool, the dog in the Garda Station, the fact that she knows where he lives!
— MáireT (@MaireTNC) May 26, 2022
Me after listening to the catfish story from the the 2 johnnies pic.twitter.com/vi6R0DQIPA
— The Heff (@hefferboi1) May 23, 2022
Not paying my TV license unless RTÉ make a GAA catfish series
— Eoin (@EMMufc) May 25, 2022