Streaming GAA games behind paywall ‘unfair’ to the elderly

AN ADVOCATE for the elderly in Cork said he intends to write to Sports Minister Catherine Martin to intervene after what he described as an “unreasonable and unfair” move to put three of Cork’s four Munster Senior Hurling Championship games next year behind a paywall.

GAAGO, which is co-owned by the GAA and RTÉ, will exclusively stream a total of 38 championship games in 2024.

Munster Senior Hurling Championship games to be streamed on the platform in 2024 include the Cork v Waterford game on April 21, the Cork v Clare game on April 28, and the Cork v Limerick match on May 11.

In football, if Cork beat Limerick in the Munster SFC, their provincial semi-final game against champions Kerry on April 20 will also be subscription-based.

Paddy O’Brien, who has been an advocate for the elderly in Cork for decades, described the move as “unreasonable and unfair”.

Mr O’Brien said some elderly people “don’t have the money” for the subscription service and that, moreover, many “don’t know anything about going online”.

“People who gave their lives at club level, who are now retired, who are now classed as elderly, although they put years and years into working for the GAA in a voluntary capacity, this is how they’re being thanked — and I think it’s appalling,” he told The Echo.

The local campaigner, who previously voiced concern that the GAA’s cashless policy at matches excludes many older fans, said the continued broadcasting of GAA games on GAAGO is a further blow to the elderly.

“The GAA belongs to the people,” he said.

“It belongs to the Irish people, but they’re putting everything out of reach of elderly people, of people who can’t go online, and a very high percentage of elderly people have no idea what online even means.”

In the GAAGO’s 38-game schedule, 22 Sam Maguire Cup, nine Liam MacCarthy Cup, and seven Tailteann Cup matches will be streamed.

Mr O’Brien said he will be writing to Ms Martin, asking for her to intervene on the matter.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, who is a lifelong GAA member, also called for the Government to step in.

“I think the minister and the Government need to look at this decision, because I feel it is wrong and not in the best interests of either the association or the public,” Mr Gould told The Echo.

“I have written to the t Oireachtas committee on sports and media asking them to invite the GAA and RTÉ in the new year to explain their decision.”

Labour candidate for the city’s south-east ward, Peter Horgan, said the decision to exclusively stream 38 championship games in 2024 on GAAGO is “siphoning off the GAA from the wider population”, which he said is a “mistake”.