TOURISM Ireland spent more than €11,000 to fly US social media star Josh Pray over for last month’s All-Ireland final.

The comedian became a hit here earlier this year after he began posting videos online ­giving his unique take on GAA.

1 Josh Pray is interviewed by Paul Collins during the All-Ireland Final between Dublin and Kerry at Croke Park Credit: Sportsfile - Subscription

Tourism Ireland recruited Pray in a bid to use his Yank take on GAA to promote the sport as a reason to visit.

Some €11,118 of taxpayer cash was spent to bring him to the capital to see Dublin take on Kerry at Croke Park for the first time on September 1.

Figures show that Tourism Ireland splashed out €8,100 on a return flight from Florida to Dublin for Pray.

Some €2,668 was spent on filming and editing of a video Tourism Ireland released detailing Pray’s visit. And €350 was spent on taxis to and from Dublin Airport and Croke Park along with meals during the video shoots.

He stayed at the Croke Park Hotel, which featured in one of his videos, but there was no charge for his stay. And Pray wasn’t paid a fee for coming.

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Following the big match, which ended in a draw, Pray said he was “disheartened” by some supporters claiming he wasn’t a real fan and didn’t deserve to have a ticket.

Tourism Ireland has justified the spend by saying a video and social media campaign reached 20million people globally.

They added: “His ­presence and enthusiasm went viral.”