Charlie McConalogue ruled out government intermediation on screening top GAA games behind a paywall. He said GAA+ has increased access to more games, but balancing that access with the number of games available free-to-air remains difficult. Mike Kennelly said people feel let down because the GAA was built by ordinary people in every parish. He argued that pay-per-view reduces accessibility and visibility of Gaelic football and hurling stars. He compared the situation to hiding the family jewels. He said many elderly people, hospital and nursing home residents, and people unable to use or afford streaming services are shut out from a long-standing part of Irish summer life.
"Speaking in response to a query in the Seanad from Fine Gael Senator Mike Kennelly, the minister said while GAA+ had led to people accessing more games, it remains a challenge as to how this is balanced in the context of how many games are free-to-air."
"Speaking ahead of the much anticipated clash between Kerry and Donegal - which is a pay-per-view event- Senator Kennelly said people feel deeply let down by the GAA which was built from the ground up by ordinary people in every parish in Ireland."
""It is like putting the family jewels in the back of the closet and hiding them away," Senator Kennelly said. "There is another side to this that decision makers may not fully appreciate. For many elderly people living alone, watching championship matches on a Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon is a huge part of their week. It helps pass lonely hours and gives them something to look forward to," Sen Kennelly added."
""The same is true for people in hospitals and nursing homes and those who can no longer travel to matches. Many are not comfortable with streaming services. Some do not have smart TVs, smartphones or laptops. Others simply cannot afford it. They are being shut out from something that has always been part of Irish summer life.""
Read at Irish Independent
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