ALL-IRELAND FINALS for senior ladies’ football and camogie have been officially made protected sporting events today.
The Dáil passed a motion today, without debate or a vote, that would ensure the sporting finals are free-to-air as a result.
The Broadcasting Act 2009 provides that the Minister for Communications can designate certain sporting and cultural events of major importance to society to ensure these events are freely available on national television.
The current Minister of Communications Denis Naughten announced back in August that the events would become protected, and that the decision has full backing from the Cabinet and the European Commission.
“I have always been adamant that ladies football and camogie be treated equally with men’s football and hurling and today’s announcement recognises that equality,” said Naughten.
This year, the ladies football final reached record levels of viewership and attendance figures.
An average of 303,800 people tuned into the TG4 live broadcast of the senior final, the highest-ever viewing figure for a ladies’ final on the station since it first started to broadcast the games back in 2001.
46, 286 people turned out to Croke Park to watch Dublin and Tipperary lift the senior and intermediate crowns respectively, which represents an increase of almost 12,000 compared to last year.
Catherine Neary, President of the Camogie Association, said that the designation will help to secure the promotion of the finals to every corner of the country and encourage new audiences to get involved with the game.
“…It puts out that message that we do know that there’s a strong fanbase, we do know that there’s a lot of people that want to watch the game.
And I think it’s important that we facilitate that, and make sure that people actually have that opportunity to watch it and I think that’s what that does.
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