American football royalty Tom Brady touches down in Limerick during trip to Ireland

THE GOAT (greatest of all time) in American football - Tom Brady - may have seen some cattle chewing the cud in lush Limerick pastures across the road from Adare Manor where he played a round of golf this weekend.

Fresh from his appearance on The Late Late Show on Friday, where he told host Patrick Kielty, “I’m an Irish boy at heart”, the sporting legend played rounds of golf in Ballybunion and Adare.

Tom was spotted on the manicured greens of the golf course set to host the 2027 Ryder Cup.

They say don’t meet your heroes but one staff member of The Lounge at Ballybunion Golf Course “debunkered” this theory.

“Tom was an absolute gentleman - humble, gracious, and every bit the legend you'd hope for,” he posted on social media.

The starstruck fan (pictured above) continued: “With seven Super Bowl titles, five Super Bowl MVPs, three NFL MVPs, and records for the most passing yards and touchdowns in NFL history, it’s safe to say we were in the presence of greatness. A day we won’t soon forget!”

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Brady, aged 47, is widely considered the greatest quarterback to ever play in the NFL. He was in Ireland to golf and visit with his ancestral home after a gap of over 20 years.

He joked with Patrick Kielty that he had brought the American weather with him in stark contrast to one of his sisters who was rained on every day during her Irish trip.

Brady has Irish heritage on his father's side, tracing back to his great-great-grandparents, John and Bridget Brady, who emigrated from Cavan and Cork to the United States during the Great Famine. They settled in Boston before moving to San Francisco.

It is something the man synonymous with the New England Patriots is very proud of.

“I am 50 per cent [Irish] but trending,” he said on The Late Late.

Brady, who signed a $375 million deal with Fox NFL after retiring, kindly took time out to meet with fans in Ballybunion where he signed autographs and posed for photos.

If you got a picture in Adare with the man who played for an incredible 23 seasons and still looks like he could pad up today, then please email them to news@limerickleader.ie