OPINION: The show must go on, as two Johnnies drop to one!

“WHAT IS a 2 Johnnies gig without a few broken hurleys?”, if by hurleys you mean bones, then nothing!

Johnny ‘Smacks’ McMahon fractured a finger on his right hand while on stage at the duo's live podcast gig in Dublin’s 3Arena on Saturday last.

Having been escorted off stage and shipped to hospital more or less immediately, it was down to one Johnny, Johnny ‘B’ O’Brien, to take the lead at the after party gig in The Well, St Stephen’s Green.

When a stunt, smashing up guitars on stage together went wrong, Johnny Smacks sustained a hand injury as a result. As you can imagine, having witnessed it live among throngs of fans, the 13,000 ticket holders didn’t catch on immediately. 

As the failed guitar smash happened at the end of the three-hour long show, most were oblivious to the injury that occurred.

Others simply thought that he was being dramatic, with one fan commenting: "Poor Smacks, thought he was just being dramatic. Great show lads."

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Fans were quick to spot a noticeable absence while en route to the after party, however, and a picture of a hospital-bound Johnny Smacks began circulating on social media, once the news was shared by the 2 Johnnies official page.

Injuries aside, by this Monday lunchtime the pair announced they will be once again performing live, this time, in Limerick’s TUS Gaelic Grounds next September. 

A mere 48 hours after a third sellout show in the 3Arena,  the popular duo said that they will perform an all-ages show in the GAA stadium, in addition to their Pints in a Field 2 show happening on June 8, 2024. 

An update hasn’t been issued on the Roscrea native as of yet, with the latest podcast having been recorded in advance of Saturday night’s show.

However, he has updated his Instagram story with the announcement of their Limerick gig next September - perhaps he is recovering in hospital and able to use one hand to scroll on socials? Hopefully.

A 2 Johnnies live podcast show is all the fun and mayhem you could expect it to be. 

From appearing through the stage on a hidden platform, to Neil the Intern stuck to a spinning wheel with targets dotted across his body, and even a live performance of Boyzone and Westlife (Boyzlife), the chaos is one full of laughter and surprise. 

As well as this, the audience members are like family. The sense of community is admirable and pronounced between everyone, and they all have one thing in common - absolute adoration for two talented Tipperary messers.