Both the senior hurling championship and the European football championships are taking place at the same time this month, and Eddie Brennan, the former Kilkenny hurler, has questioned why RTÉ, the state broadcaster, has decided to show Euro 2024 instead of hurling, which is one of the national sports of Ireland.
The lack of GAA coverage has become a hot topic in Ireland, with GAAGO and the state broadcaster are once again taking flak for not showing every game available over the last few months.
RTÉ announced their lineup last week for the pre-tournament and stated that they would show 51 free-to-air live and exclusive games on RTÉ, with 45 of them live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, and the six final group games on the RTÉ Player and RTÉ News channels. While some hurling games are on the GAAGO subscription service, a contrasting situation has angered some.
A spokesperson for RTÉ defended the decision and told the Irish Mirror last week, "The rights holders for each sporting body determine independently of broadcasters what rights are included in a package. UEFA sells their Euro 2024 package to include all matches at the tournament; hence, RTÉ shows all matches.
"The GAA sells separate packages to broadcasters; hence, the games are shown across RTÉ, GAAGO, and BBCNI."
"It is a matter for the rights holder, not the broadcaster, to determine what matches are included in what rights package." The GAAGO sale yesterday urged supporters to take out a €39 "mid-season pass" and promised there are "plenty of big games to come in the football championship, so buy early.
"A full-season pass for 38 matches costs €79, with single matches at €12 and bundles of three at €24."
It's clear where the priorities lie for the state broadcaster, and Brennan, a GAA fanatic and legend, has questioned why they are showing a tournament that Ireland isn't even in over a game that is widely loved in Ireland. Brennan also believes that every single remaining hurling game in the championship should be shown.
"It’s disappointing that our national games would ever be forced to play second fiddle to a soccer tournament Ireland is not even playing in, one that seems to be taking precedence over our national broadcaster," he said in his Irish Independent column.
"We’re dealing with a very short championship window, which is being squeezed even further now. If Ireland were playing in Germany, it’d be fair enough, but they’re not.
"There are only five matches left in the All-Ireland Hurling Championship, and we should be showcasing every one of them properly."
The GAA coverage debate rumbles on.
