GAA games over next few weeks should be free to air
- Sky Sports and GAA should allow games to be broadcast on free to air channels over next six weeks.
With eight upcoming senior GAA inter-county games only available to view with a Sky Sports subscription, Labour Sport spokesperson Mark Wall has called on the games to be made free to air when people are confined to their homes during Level 5.
Senator Wall said:
“The announcement of the cancellation of minor and U20 intercounty games was handled appallingly by the government over the last few days but at least there is now some clarity for the next few weeks of what games are going ahead.
“However, what I am really concerned about is that eight of the GAA intercounty games during the six week lockdown will only be available on Sky Sports, which requires a subscription.
“These games should be free to air. We are living in unprecedented times, and with pubs closed, and people confined to home these matches should be available to watch by all.
“One of the key reasons for allowing the senior games to go ahead is that it is something for people to look forward to and enjoy from their own homes. It’s an important boost to people’s mental health that a limited number of games will go ahead. Sport is an important outlet for so many people and central to who we are as a country.
“I am calling on Sky Sports and the GAA to agree to allow these games to be broadcast on free to air TV channels so that all people can enjoy the matches during the difficult six weeks ahead from their own homes.
ENDS
Details of the games are available here: https://www.gaa.ie/news/sky-sports-release-championship-schedule/