Clare outfit Éire Óg take broadcasting beef to rural grassroots

One of the three Clare clubs behind the motion calling for all broadcasted Championship games to be made free-to-air claim they are taking the stance for the rural grassroots of the GAA.

Pat Daly, Éire Óg Ennis’ county board delegate and former club chairman, said they tabled the proposal not in objection to Sky Sports but their exclusive live rights to the 14 Championship matches.

“There are people out there unable to watch games and they are the grassroots of the GAA. There are a lot of country people who don’t have Sky, who want to watch games but are not drinkers and don’t want to have to go to pubs to do it. It’s the games that RTÉ don’t have that they’re missing out on. They should be able to watch those. That’s what our club are thinking anyway.”

Daly, a Clare county councillor, appreciates what the GAA has done to broaden its Championship viewership internationally.

His own son, who lives in New Zealand, now has easy access to viewing matches. However, he says his club are acting now as they fear more games could be made available to pay-per-view TV.

“I have Sky but I know of a hell of a lot of people who don’t have Sky. They don’t have BT or the other satellite channels. They’re going to games all their lives and to be fair RTÉ or TV3 should have all of the games.”

Speaking last month, GAA president Liam O’Neill insisted the introduction of Sky to the GAA’s media rights stable has been a positive development.

“Once the initial hysteria died down people recognised the Sky component of our media rights deal has worked really spectacularly for the organisation. I think people have to accept that,” O’Neill said.

“Naturally, there will be the odd bit of reaction to it and the example has come from Clare. We’ll deal with that motion and let’s see where it goes.”