Emma Fogarty will join Patrick Kielty on tonight’s Late Late Show to talk about The Slightest Touch, the documentary following her friendship with Colin Farrell and their memorable journey at the 2024 Dublin Marathon.
The Debra Ireland campaigner is scheduled to discuss the challenge, the friendship behind it and how she feels about their story reaching audiences around the world. The programme airs tonight, Friday November 6th, at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Four Kilometres For Four Decades
In October 2024, Farrell pushed Fogarty’s wheelchair over the final four kilometres of the Dublin Marathon. Each kilometre marked a decade of her life, with the Run to 40 campaign celebrating her 40th birthday and raising more than €1 million for Debra Ireland.
Fogarty lives with epidermolysis bullosa, or EB, a rare genetic condition that makes the skin extremely fragile. Friction and minor contact can cause painful blistering and wounds, making those final kilometres a considerable undertaking. f
The significance of the occasion went well beyond the finish line. It brought attention to a condition that affects daily life in ways most people never have to consider, while raising funds for the charity supporting people living with EB.
For anyone who remembers the scenes from Dublin that day, tonight’s interview offers an opportunity to hear Fogarty’s own reflections on what went into the challenge.
The Friendship Behind The Film
Directed by Rachel Fleit, The Slightest Touch follows a friendship spanning around 15 years. The marathon provides a focal point, but the relationship at the heart of the film began long before the fundraising campaign.
Speaking about the documentary earlier this year, Fogarty and Farrell described a film built around conversations rather than a script. Their exchanges make room for humour alongside the realities of living with EB.
That balance matters. Fogarty’s experience includes pain and demanding daily care, but her personality and the ease of the friendship are central to the story too. rte.ie
The documentary had its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival on 28 February and won the festival’s Best Documentary award. HBO has since acquired worldwide television and streaming rights, giving the story a wider audience beyond its Dublin beginnings.
A Tribute To Ciara Mageean
Tonight’s programme will also celebrate the life and legacy of Ciara Mageean. Her friends and fellow athletes Ellen Keane and Thomas Barr will join Patrick Kielty to pay tribute to the European champion and remember their friend.
How To Watch Tonight
Fogarty’s appearance is scheduled for The Late Late Show on Friday 6th November, starting at 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
The interview will revisit the 2024 marathon challenge and look ahead to the documentary reaching viewers internationally.
Watch on the RTÉ Player - Tonight’s programme details
