I think this is great news. The RTE have had a monopoly on GAA for years. The higher ranks of the GAA and media in general in Ireland have no respect or regard for the GAA. The greatest organisation in Ireland and possibly the greatest amateur organisation in the world. There are so much people out there blinded by the bad media attention that the GAA bring.
With the whole Lee Chin affair and others the whole focus was it being a GAA problem yet the GAA have been leading lights in Irish sport in trying to eradicate rasism in every form in the past couple of decades. Racism in Irish is a social problem across the whole community it was never a GAA problem. Of course it's up to the GAA to solve it and they do.
The GAA have been pivotal in recent years in mending problems with our neighbours across the border. They have made huge strides here. Their attitudes in recent decades have change totally for inclusion for all.
This recent move also attempts to bring the GAA back to those who have left our shores for various reasons but still regard Ireland as home and have a great love for our national sports. I think it the long run it will benefit the players and hopefully with time they will be rewarded for their efforts. I cannot see any problem with this. Every other sport in the world would be delighted to get a deal with Sky why shouldn't the GAA? You cannot say the GAA don't pump the money back into the community in lots of ways they do. They have built world class stadiums and if we get a Rugby World Cup in Ireland it is the GAA whole will have built most of the facilities to allow this to happen. So bottom line to me is this is just a natural progression for the GAA which will benefit the whole of Ireland and every sport on the Island. So stop the GAA bashing and look forward to a bright future for our games and the raising of the profile of our country. If only the government and other organisations in our country were as inovative and forward thinking as our great organisation what a great country we would have.
This I believe will somewhere along the way bring professionalism to our sport (even if that was not the intention). This will change the face of our sport but I think for the better because I think with professionalism our club championships will again come to the fore and those who put their lives into the sport will get paid for the joy and efforts they bring. Maybe there won't be a Wexford team anymore maybe it will be the South East or something like that but we will love it all the same as the sport is brought to another level.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 03/04/2014 10:29:43    1569795

The higher ranks of the GAA - Obviously meant RTE not GAA

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 03/04/2014 10:38:29    1569803

Countyman
I agree with you, weeshie Fogarty said something semilar in that why didn't the GAA give sky all the games and give rte all the games as well that way people across the pond can watch all the games for pay for view and we could watch all the games here the same as usual. Wouldnt it not have made more since ?

KingdomBoy1 (Kerry) - Posts: 14092 - 03/04/2014 11:06:50    1569823

KingdomBoy1
County: Kerry
Posts: 1875

1569823
Countyman
I agree with you, weeshie Fogarty said something semilar in that why didn't the GAA give sky all the games and give rte all the games as well that way people across the pond can watch all the games for pay for view and we could watch all the games here the same as usual. Wouldnt it not have made more since ?

It would have made sense to everyone except Sky. They are in the business of getting subscribers, in Ireland as well as UK, & not having exclusivity would give nobody any reason to either take out a sub or keep their sub going during the summer months when there is no soccer or rugby.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 03/04/2014 11:47:11    1569847

Once again I ask what did all the Kilkenny & Dublin hurling fans do last year when NOONE showed either their drawn Leinster semi-final or the replay? They went to the match! Anyone who didn't go didn't get to see it. If Sky were showing it everyone would at least have the option of seeing it. People need to cop on to themselves!

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 03/04/2014 11:58:16    1569856

One impact at local level will be the fundraising for clubs. I have already been told by people who would normally buy tickets or contribute to fundraising that after this deal I can stick any draw tickets where sun doesn't shine. The perception out there is that if you have got into bed with Sky and the Murdoch empire it's just all about the money and that you must now have plenty of it. Many of those involved with the GAA believe that so those who have no great connection definitely think that. Will Croke Park help make up the shortfall at club level?

RoverTin (Derry) - Posts: 226 - 03/04/2014 12:09:36    1569869

Will Michael Ring be calling on the IRFU and the provinces to rip up their lucrative HC/Sky contracts as the lads who mark out rugby pitches up and down the country can't watch for free.

Catch a grip people, some here in the North couldn't even get TV3 so are better off with the Sky deal..

bricktop (Down) - Posts: 2503 - 03/04/2014 12:52:05    1569898

Although I have my own reservations about this deal some of the reaction to it has been over the top. From Prime Time to Ministers it's been used to have a pop at the GAA which is wrong in my opinion.

Also some of the reaction in terms of people being in favour of it has been over the top too. Thinking Sky will revolutionise everything and that anyone who is against it in anyway is backward and not forward thinking enough is naive in the extreme too.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13710 - 03/04/2014 13:20:27    1569926

"I have already been told by people who would normally buy tickets or contribute to fundraising that after this deal I can stick any draw tickets where sun doesn't shine."

A completely ignorant view point!

link

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 03/04/2014 13:25:05    1569928

keeper7
County: Longford
Posts: 1864

1569856
Once again I ask what did all the Kilkenny & Dublin hurling fans do last year when NOONE showed either their drawn Leinster semi-final or the replay? They went to the match! Anyone who didn't go didn't get to see it. If Sky were showing it everyone would at least have the option of seeing it. People need to cop on to themselves!

thats a stupid comment
honestly matches that are shown on tv vary every year
the reason them games were not on tv was because they had another game on at that time wasnt it?
sky have their lot the same as tv3 if a game goes to a replay they cannot access the same as tv3 couldnt

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 03/04/2014 14:13:55    1569961

It's easy to get high and mighty about all of this and launch into a tirade against the GAA and Murdoch but unfortunately we live in an era where this is probably too good an opportunity to turn down. I know we take great pride in the amateur, grassrotts of the Association but if we can get some guarantees that the money will be ploughed back into clubs and those counties who are struggling then some good can come of this PLUS the wider coverage will maybe bring the games to a different audience. You also have to admit that SKY's coverage of sports is pretty impressive and they make an effort to widen the appeal of 'minority sports' they coverage. I am reminded of Groucho Marx's famous line "There are my principles and if you don't like them......well here are some more".
As an aside there is one concern I do have and maybe someone else can answer this. Do SKY also have the rights to the All Ireland semi finals and final? If so will RTE coverage be blocked out on SKY at the same time leaving Northern viewers with ONLY SKY coverage of these games. Will we also be able to watch RTE coverage of these games? I think that this is a topic that will really concern Ulster Gaels who down the line would only be left with 'British coverage' of matches; that would definately cause ructions and leave the GAA open to accusations of a two tiered Association divided on geographical and 'cultural' lines even though we are meant to be ONE organisation.

Ulsterman (Antrim) - Posts: 9703 - 03/04/2014 14:27:15    1569969

Keeper is it just ignorant because it's not your own? At the end of the day Sky are paying for this therefore there is money coming into Croke Pk coffers. If people aren't involved or have no connection would they fork out money to an organisation you think is rolling in it with it's TV and sponsorship deals.

RoverTin (Derry) - Posts: 226 - 03/04/2014 15:49:30    1570011

03/04/2014 12:09:36
RoverTin
One impact at local level will be the fundraising for clubs. I have already been told by people who would normally buy tickets or contribute to fundraising that after this deal I can stick any draw tickets where sun doesn't shine. The perception out there is that if you have got into bed with Sky and the Murdoch empire it's just all about the money and that you must now have plenty of it. Many of those involved with the GAA believe that so those who have no great connection definitely think that. Will Croke Park help make up the shortfall at club level?really. that's strange. never once down in North Tipp have I heard anything similar when fundraising for rugby.
Will clubs honestly totally struggle as a result as I don't believe they will in slightest as a result of Sky taking up some rights to games. Why would people make things more difficult for clubs to run their operation out of some misguided ethical issue.

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 03/04/2014 16:41:14    1570038

This is an excellent opportunity for the gaa! With sky coming in and the amount of games being shown in oz the championship is reaching a far greater audience! Now the impact this has in financial terms is that when negotiating with sponsors, counties can demand more as there is a global audience to gaa now And a greater gain the be made from having your name on a county teams jersey! When u look as well at the games that are being shown by rte and tv3, we are not going to be missing out on too much! Rte and tv3 dont televise everygame anyway, so its not like it should have a major impact on people that they miss a game on tv throughout the year! There are more games availablefor us to watch on tv this year than ever before so if rte and tv3 are not showing them at least u have the option of going to the pub and watching it! Better yet and dont think this has been mentioned enough go to the actual game and support your county! We have two great sports to be very proud of and its great that we are now getting a chance to showcase them to a more global audience!

as_ky (Kerry) - Posts: 535 - 03/04/2014 18:28:59    1570098

keeper7
County: Longford
Posts: 1864

1569856
Once again I ask what did all the Kilkenny & Dublin hurling fans do last year when NOONE showed either their drawn Leinster semi-final or the replay? They went to the match! Anyone who didn't go didn't get to see it. If Sky were showing it everyone would at least have the option of seeing it. People need to cop on to themselves!

"thats a stupid comment
honestly matches that are shown on tv vary every year
the reason them games were not on tv was because they had another game on at that time wasnt it?
sky have their lot the same as tv3 if a game goes to a replay they cannot access the same as tv3 couldn't"

RTE decided to show a different game the 1st day. TV3 had "Take Me Out" or some other rot! Noone bothered with the replay. The point is that in the near future we could have more choice & it's up to everyone whether or not they want to pay for it.

keeper7 (Longford) - Posts: 4088 - 03/04/2014 19:02:32    1570114

keeper7

thats because they couldnt show it was not in their contract they were not allowed show it
tv3 had a hurling match last year and it was in thurles
there panel were standing at the side of the pitch while the first game in a doublle header was taking place
that game went to extra time and they stated clearly if they were contractialy allowed they would have shown the extra time
but they were not allowed despite the camers in place and the match taking place behind them

hill16no1man (Dublin) - Posts: 12665 - 03/04/2014 19:30:45    1570126

Yes exactly, the GAA didn't allow RTE/TV3 show the Dublin vs Kilkenny match. And it is not case of just taking up games that no-one else would broadcast, they out-bid TV3 for the rights. They also have 2 All Ireland quarter finals exclusively.

The GAA could easily have offered Sky joint broadcasting rights with RTE/TV3 in Ireland with exclusive coverage in the UK. That would have given the Irish in the UK the chance to watch the games which would have given Sky plenty subscription opportunities. Having exclusivity in Ireland would not have been a deal breaker for Sky, the Irish market is a tiny spec in their empire, but the GAA obviously got more cash this way.

county man (Limerick) - Posts: 1102 - 03/04/2014 20:35:36    1570154

as_ ky this deal will have the exact opposite effect, while it may help the likes of Dublin and Kerry get increases on there already massive sponsorship deals, it will impact negatively on smaller counties chances of getting sponsorship deals from local businesses as a lot less people are going to see what may be there only game on tv if it is broadcast on sky. This will widen the already massive gap between the top few counties and the rest. There seems to be an idea on here that people are only interested in games involving there own counties but this is total rubbish. Encouraging people to go to the pub to watch the matches is the last thing that is needed in Ireland where drink is such a massive problem. Also getting into bed with the Murdoch empire would leave a lot of people uneasy given there track record, we have already seen this week the front page of one of his rags a gaa players problems been dragged over its front page, this may be the first of many, at least the soccer and rugby lads have the money to get injunctions against what the get up to getting in the press whereas the gaa players would not.

ros1 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1211 - 03/04/2014 21:07:41    1570169

A sign of things to come Jeff and the Boys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raLcldCnt9E&feature=share

fortyfive (Tyrone) - Posts: 5929 - 03/04/2014 21:12:44    1570172

RTE could surely show deferred coverage of the games that evening. Obviously not the same as watching the game live but if the only worry is about people in "rural" Ireland and old people then I'm sure they could hold off listening to the radio until the match was over.

I think this will turn out to be a massive stroke of genius. Imagine the sponsorship opportunities for County teams now that 10 million sky subscribers will now have access to our games. Imagine been able to tell Joe Bloggs Sports that their name on the front of the jersey will be viewed across the uk, usa and oz by millions of people. Even people who don't have sky sports will be able to get updates and probably clips of games on sky sports news.

This is completely different to Premier Sports and Setanta, I lived in the UK and to get Premier Sports you had to already have the sky package and then pay another fee on top. So for me, GAA is now free for Irish in the UK who already had sky. Same in Oz for those paying for setanta with the games on ch 7.

Typical Irish attitude to find the negative in everything and predicting the worst in the future because of it. Imagine it kicked off around the world and kids started playing it in school. There is a huge interest in GAA for kids, I've been around Asia, Australia and the states and lived in the uk and any time I was out with a hurl and ball in a park young kids were over asking for a go. It definitely made me proud and now all these kids have access to the games. We can tell them sky sports 3 is showing a game on Saturday so you can watch it.

Gives me a great buzz to be honest and I for one can't wait to see it grow.

Faithfull (Offaly) - Posts: 573 - 03/04/2014 21:50:14    1570191