All-Ireland Ladies Football, Camogie Finals Added To Free-To-Air TV

The All-Ireland Ladies Football and Camogie finals "are to be added to the list of 'events of major importance' that must be shown on free-to-air television," according to Kevin Doyle of the Irish INDEPENDENT. The two sports "are the only new additions to the list which will be submitted by Communications Minister Denis Naughten to the EU in the coming weeks." This classifies them above Ireland's Six Nations rugby games "which must also be made available for RTE, TV3, TG4 or UTV Ireland to broadcast -- but not necessarily live." The IRFU had "resisted proposals for the rugby tournament to be added to the list on the basis that it could cost them income from TV rights." Naughten said, "While the designation guarantees that these events can continue to be made available on 'free to air' television, it also confirms that they are of special resonance and have a distinct cultural importance for the people of Ireland" (INDEPENDENT, 9/25).