Frustration for fans as Kerry clash placed behind GAAGO paywall

TYRONE GAA fans have been expressing their anger after it emerged that the Red Hands’ key clash against Kerry in the All-Ireland quarter final this Saturday will only be available on a pay-per-view streaming service.

Hundreds of supporters, especially the elderly and those unable to travel to the game, will not be able to watch the seismic encounter unless they have a subscription to the ‘GAAGO’ service.

People have been expressing their frustrations and deep dismay that they might not see the highly-anticipated game, which could see Tyrone reach the All-Ireland semi final.

One fan, Sean Lagan, expressed his disgust on social media.

“Older people who have been the fabric of the GAA up-and-down the country are being sidelined yet again,” he said.

“They won’t take cash at the gates at many club games since last year, and now they expect people to be able to use a streaming service that many will either be having huge problems trying to use, or will have no access to whatsoever.

“It should be free to air on our national broadcaster.”

Caroline Muldoon described the decision as an ‘absolute disgrace.’

“My father who is of the elder generation longs for the weekend for football on TV Lord knows he has served his life and family without complaint his wee joy has been reduced now thanks to no Internet listening to a crucial game on the feckin radio,” she said.

“He like others of his generation throughout the years of playing and following gaelic in difficult circumstances are simply nobody’s. Their generation made gaelic football what it is today.”

Former Armagh All-Ireland winning defender Justin McNulty, now a SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh, has written to the GAA director-general Tom Ryan asking him to step in and ensure that all of the quarter-finals are free-to-air.

Speaking to the Ulster Herald, local Cllr Barry McElduff has also expressed his dismay at the movement towards pay-per-view and what he sees as its exclusionary nature. He is especially critical of RTÉ, who as it happens take in 50 per cent of revenue generated through the GAAGO service.

“The level of public interest in Saturday’s games is massive among the four counties involved, for whom the GAA is in their DNA.

“For decades, fans have been accustomed to relying on RTÉ, the national broadcaster, to beam those matches into their sitting rooms, and now there’s a situation where they’ll either have to pay for it or may avoid being able to see the games altogether, be it because they are elderly and what not.

“The GAA and RTÉ need to work together to get social inclusion back at the top of their agenda but that seems to be slipping away and that’s regrettable.

McElduff concluded by saying that an agreement should be reached whereby everyone can access blockbuster championship matches for free.

“Ultimately, decisions have to be made that should trump commercial factors. Everyone should be able to watch these games on terrestrial television, it’s part of our culture and RTÉ in general needs to do more to include counties in Ulster as part of its national outreach as well.”