Harris: GAA needs to listen to its grassroots on paywall issue

TAOISEACH Simon Harris has said that he fully supports the call by Cork Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard for GAA President Jarlath Burns to come before the Seanad, and hear the concerns about the number of hurling games being shown on GAAGo.

Tonight, the Munster Senior Hurling championship round robin game between Cork and Limerick is to be shown on the pay-per-view service.

This is the second weekend in a row where no Munster or Leinster Hurling Championship game will be shown on terrestrial television.

Mr Harris described the GAA as an “incredible organisation”.

However, he warned that they need to listen to the “grassroots” when it comes to the issue of pay walls for big matches.

“It has always been a grassroots organisation.

“I think the grassroots are really angry, disappointed, and frustrated that matches that the kids want to watch, and the family want to watch, are put behind a paywall.

“The GAA really need to listen to this. They need to listen to their grassroots.

“That has always been their strength from the bottom up, and I think they have got this wrong and I think they need to reflect,” Mr Harris added.

“My colleague senator Tim Lombard has asked that the GAA would come in to the Oireachtas, and I think that is entirely appropriate ... that they tease through and discuss this issue.”

Mr Lombard said: “GAAGo was initially set up in 2017 as a service to broadcast hurling and football matches to people overseas.

“It’s turned into something completely different now when you have so many matches behind a paywall.

“Instead of promoting and showcasing brilliant Munster hurling games, the GAA are putting up barriers and obstacles to enjoying the game.”

Mr Harris added that the Government supports the GAA and sees “huge value” in the organisation.

However, he said this evening’s game “being behind a paywall isn’t what people who support the GAA in every community want to see”.

The GAAGo site provides coverage of GAA fixtures, originally aimed at international viewers, allowing them to pay to watch the games online.

Following an expansion of its coverage in October 2022, after the GAA’s broadcasting deal with Sky Sports ended, GAAGo has now also become popular for games which are not broadcast on free-to-air channels in Ireland.