Call for inter-county GAA smatches to be all free to view

In the wake of successful years for Westmeath and Roscommon, calls have been made by a local councillor for the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to make ALL inter-county football and hurling matches available on free-to-air television.

Fine Gael councillor John Dolan was speaking at a recent meeting of the Municipal District of Athlone-Moate, saying that while both counties won senior provincial football championships, many people who could not make their matches – largely from an older generation – were left with no access to watching the matches free-to-air.

He described 2026 as 'a very memorable year' for the GAA, with Mayo ending its long wait for an All-Ireland SFC title, and he also pointed to Wicklow's dramatic victory in the Tailteann Cup, as well as the success of both Westmeath and Roscommon.

“These were all brilliant. But when Westmeath played Galway, in Salthill, in a match so many people were looking forward to, I was standing beside a man in the stadium and he was telling me about his father, who I know is a great supporter of the GAA, was not able to travel. He had to pay to watch the game, and I just don't think that's right.

"We all understand the GAA needs to make money, and it does that in plenty of other ways, but it just hit home with me that day (in Galway) that something should be done about this,” said Cllr. Dolan.

Cllr Dolan proposed that the Municipal District writes to the GAA on the matter, saying that "everyone should have the opportunity to watch their county compete in the inter-county Championship on free-to-air television and, where required, through accessible online streaming platforms".

Cllr Tom Farrell, a former chairman of Westmeath GAA, said he "reluctantly supported" the motion, given his background in the administrative side of the game. He said there were a lots of factors at play "to be fair to the GAA".

“Soccer and rugby are all largely paid-for events on television. However, perhaps the GAA will need to meet this argument halfway and seek an improvement to the current set-up," he said.

Both councillors, as well as Cllr. Frankie Keena, agreed with the motion for the district to correspond on the issue with the GAA.

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