Croke Park, the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Photo: Stock Image Pixabay. | Pixabay
Fine Gael motion claims paywall risks excluding supporters
Tipperary Fine Gael councillors are calling on the GAA to remove subscription barriers to senior intercounty championship matches, saying supporters should be able to watch their county teams without having to pay for a streaming service.
The motion was brought forward by the majority of Tipperary Fine Gael councillors at the July meeting of Tipperary County Council that took place in the Nenagh civic offices on July 13.
The details of the motion sought the council to call on the GAA to ensure all intercounty-senior football and hurling games from 2027 onwards are available for all to view on free-to-air television and, when required, through accessible online streaming platforms.
Speaking at the meeting, Thurles Fine Gael councillor Peggy Ryan said: “The intercounty games represent the best of our community and culture and putting them behind a paywall makes them less accessible to people who derive great joy from them.”
She said not everyone has the ability or resources to use online streaming services, highlighting that some older supporters may not have suitable devices or broadband connections.
Cllr Ryan also pointed to the financial pressures already facing many households, saying the cost of attending matches, including travel and tickets, can add up significantly. “It can become exorbitant and there is a cost of living crisis ongoing for people in many of their homes,” she said. She argued that Gaelic games should remain a community asset rather than something that becomes unavailable to people because of additional costs.
Cashel councillor Declan Burgess supported the proposal, saying accessibility was central to what the GAA represents. “The essence of the GAA is community. Community needs to be accessible to all,” he said.
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Cllr Burgess added that the introduction of the current paywall model has led to understandable frustration among supporters on the ground and said everyone should have the opportunity to watch their county compete.
However, Fine Gael councillor Willie Kennedy said he could not support the motion, arguing that sporting organisations also need sustainable income to maintain and improve facilities. Speaking at the meeting he said: “You will notice my name wasn’t on that and there is a reason for it. I don’t support it because in past times since organised sports started they operated on the basis that sport was attractive. They attracted the spectators who paid and they developed our game.”
Cllr Kennedy compared the situation with other sporting competitions, saying Premier League supporters routinely pay significant amounts through tickets and subscription services.
He also referred to the financial difficulties experienced by other sporting organisations, recalling the situation involving Cork City FC, which previously faced a financial crisis.
“Going back a couple of years ago Cork City were in receivership. There were thousands did a protest to try and save it,” Cllr Kennedy said. “One reporter rightly commented that if some of these people just went to games, there would not be a need for this at all.”
He highlighted the financial needs of local facilities most of our stadiums are running at losses, saying Semple Stadium requires substantial investment. “Semple Stadium needs €10 million of an investment and unless the Government puts that into it, it will be very hard to do it,” he said.
Cllr Kennedy also raised concerns that making more games available to watch at home could reduce attendance at matches and conflict with efforts to encourage participation in sport.
He pointed to Tipperary’s Sports for All initiative, which aims to get more people active, and said there was a risk of encouraging people to stay at home instead.
The motion was passed at the council’s July meeting and will now be sent to GAA President Jarlath Burns for consideration and a response.
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