GAA Catfish: New podcast gets 2m streams as The 2 Johnnies reveal latest twist in saga

The latest instalment of the GAA Catfish podcast series has had over 2 million streams in Ireland and across the globe, according to podcast hosts The 2 Johnnies.

The original two-part series revealed how up to 40 men in Ireland had been "catfished" by the same woman, including high-profile GAA players and men from the entertainment industry.

Catfishing relates to the creation of fake online profiles to lure another person into a relationship.

The latest update to the story shows that nothing has changed for the serial catfisher Cora O’Donovan, aka Nicki.

In response to the new episode, The 2 Johnnies and the team behind the podcast said they have been flooded with emails from people who claim to have been catfished by the GAA Catfish, some going back 15 years.

They also heard from a number of women whose pictures were used as part of this elaborate fake world. Some of those women are considering next steps. The team said they had also been contacted by gardaí, politicians and legal professionals all offering help for the victims.

The 2 Johnnies said they had been "overwhelmed" by the response to the latest installment and said stories had been pouring in from listeners affected by catfishing.

"We have been contacted by a wide range of people including TDs from across the Dáil chamber and members of an Garda Síochána, which further highlights the seriousness of the issue and the need for awareness and action," the comedy duo said.

"Our aim from the outset was to raise awareness of the damaging impact that catfishing can have, and it’s clear from the response that this conversation is long overdue."

Johnny B added: "So many people, men and women, have come forward with their own stories of how they were catfished or scammed.

"Fake accounts are being reported and the social media platforms seem to do nothing, they could have saved a lot of people a lot of hurt. They don’t give a sh***. Thanks for sharing your stories, we hope ye all come out stronger, keep the head."

The GAA Catfish: Part Three is available to stream on Spotify.