From the rise of Setanta to the end of Eir — a remarkable Irish TV odyssey

In the early days of around 1999, there were seven or eight employees in their one Dublin office. By 2007, there were offices in London, Dublin, and Glasgow, all packed with employees. Then came the hangover.

THE BIG SCREENS: Presenter Shane Dawson and Chloe Mustaki of Charlton and Republic of Ireland are seen on screens during the 2020 Women's National League Awards at the eir Sport Studios in Dublin. Picutre: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

On Saturday, June 12, Eir Sport will air its very last outside broadcast, almost certainly the Allianz Hurling League meeting of Clare and Kilkenny in Cusack Park, Ennis.

The week after, June 19, it will be broadcasting the Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup final from Treviso, the home of Benetton Rugby. But there will be no staff on site. Instead, whoever is on duty will be doing it from the studio back home. And after that, they will cease to exist.