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3rd July 2024
03:09pm BST
Taoiseach Simon Harris has reiterated that coverage of the GAA should not be behind a paywall.
Debate about the streaming platform GAA Go has had plenty of coverage in recent weeks, with many claiming the subscription-based package is preventing growth in the Gaelic games by making it less accessible.
Responding to Noel Grealish in the Dáil on Wednesday, Harris emphasised how important it was for the GAA governing body listen to the concern around growing the game at a grassroots level.
"The last time I raised this there was a lot of tut-tutting from top brass in the GAA, and they were very disappointed with my comments, but I’d say this to them, respectfully, far more people are disappointed with how this season has been shown in terms of GAA GO," he said.
"So don’t listen to me if you don’t want, that’s grand, but please do listen to the grassroots of the GAA. The GAA is an amazing organisation and its beauty has been that it is a grassroots organisation.
"And I’ve said many, many times that the GAA needs to listen to the grassroots. I was at the Cork-Limerick match in Páirc Uí Chaoimh earlier this summer, unfortunately many people across the country did not get a chance to see the game because it was behind a paywall. The same, indeed, was true for Galway and Dublin last weekend, as well.
"There has to be a better way of doing this. I’m certainly a big supporter of the GAA, the government is a big supporter of the GAA. But I do think they should listen to the grassroots and I absolutely look forward to meeting with the President of the GAA and the Director General, both of whom have reached out to me on this issue."
There's been plenty of iconic moments throughout the season that have been inaccessible but one of the biggest travesties was for so many fans to miss out on Cork's famous hurling victory against Limerick.
The Rebels beat the All-Ireland champions to inflict a first defeat on them since April 2023.
Additionally, thousands missed out on a famous victory for Galway in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championships quarter final match against Dublin.
Pádraic Joyce's men beat Dublin in a championship game for the first time in 90 years at Croke Park - but fans could only access it through GAA GO.
