Cllrs demand free TV access to all championship matches

Galway County Council will send a unanimous motion to the central council of the GAA urging it to return championship matches to free to air channels next season.

Tabled by Tuam Independent Councillor Shaune Cunniffe, he said the decision to sell the rights to Sky was having a devastating affect across rural Ireland where many pensioners on a fixed income were unable to afford the high fees and were missing out on crucial matches.

The GAA was an organisation run by volunteers who gave of their time freely for the good of sport and their community. The sale of television rights to the British media giant excluded a large swathe of the population who were unable to travel to watch the matches.

When TV3 had the rights, 448,000 people watched a quarter final, since Sky took over just 48,000 watch it, Cllr Cunniffe stated.

Kinvara Fine Gael Councillor Joe Byrne said this was a decision for the GAA and any members should make their feelings known through their own branches.

The last time a motion on this issue came up for a vote at the national congress, just 15% voted in favour of returning the rights to free to air channels, he stated.

Since the rights were sold, the diaspora abroad were now able to watch matches easily rather than forking out large fees to watch it in pubs.

However, everybody else in the chamber was in favour of the motion, with Cllr Aidan Donohue (FG) pointing out that he now had to bring his kids to a pub to watch the matches.

Cllr James Charity (Ind) insisted that the RTE digital player service was a better way for the diaspora to watch GAA matches. He referred to the reference on Sky Sports by a broadcaster to last Sunday’s final between Mayo and Dublin as the “All-England Final”.

Cllr Seosamnh Ó Cualáin said none of the clubs were getting funding from the deal – indeed they all got a levy recently instead of a cheque for up to €4,000.

Cllr Tim Broderick (Ind) pointed out that Sky Sports costs pubs €5,000 a year and it was scandalous and disgraceful they should have rights over Ireland’s national game.