Former Belfast Lord Mayor and Sinn Féin Seanad group leader, Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile, has waded into the ongoing debate surrounding GAA games being streamed on the pay-to-view GAAGO service.
Two of this weekend’s four All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals games will be shown live and exclusive on the online streaming platform, which is a joint-venture between the GAA and RTÉ.
Saturday’s double-header featuring Tyrone’s clash with defending All-Ireland champions Kerry and the all-Ulster meeting between Armagh and Monaghan will be shown on GAAGO.
Read more: The cost of going to Croke Park - Essential information for GAA fans heading to Dublin this weekend
Sunday’s games involving Derry and Cork and Dublin versus Mayo will be free to air on RTÉ.
An annual subscription for GAAGO costs €90 or €7.99 monthly over 12 months and games are also available as one-off purchases costing £10 or €12 per game.
However, Ó Donnghaile believes that important GAA Championship games should be free to view for fans across Ireland and raised the issue in the Seanad on Thursday.
He called on the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, to raise the issue of GAAGO paywalls directly with the GAA and RTÉ.
“I will be asking the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, whether she believes that, in the midst of an existing cost of living crisis, important GAA Championship fixtures should be free to view for audiences across Ireland,” said Ó Donnghaile.
“The fact that this Saturday’s All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final double-header between Kerry and Tyrone and between Armagh and Monaghan are only available through the paywall service GAAGO has caused great frustration among GAA fans right across the country.
“To have games of this importance behind a paywall, to me, goes against everything that the GAA should stand for.
“Our games should be accessible to everyone.
“I am asking that the paywall for games of this importance be lifted so that they may be viewed and enjoyed by GAA fans across Ireland - supporters should not be discriminated against because they cannot afford to pay for GAAGO.
“I am asking for the Minister to raise the concerns expressed by audiences directly with the GAA and RTÉ."
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