944,000 VIEWERS WATCH RTÉ’S COVERAGE OF MAYO’S HISTORIC WIN, AFTER A 75 YEAR WAIT TO LIFT THE SAM MAGUIRE

Yesterday witnessed truly memorable scenes in Croke Park, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable men’s GAA championship.

An average of 944,000 viewers, representing an 82% share of the available audience, tuned in to watch Mayo’s historic win after a 75 year wait to lift the Sam Maguire Cup. The peak minute at 17:11 had 1.1 million viewers. There have been 566,000 streams to date on RTÉ Player.

The Mayo victory – and the scenes that surrounded it – showed just how much our national games mean to the Irish public and how they fuel the fire within.

Those final seconds in Croke Park will live long in the memory. Yet again, a national moment was captured and reflected by RTÉ to millions at home and abroad, and both Marty Morrissey and Paraic Lodge have a place in the annals in their ability to capture the raw emotions witnessed yesterday. Sunday July 26th is the latest chapter in sporting history that will sit alongside goals from Ray Houghton, Olympic success for Katie Taylor, and Ireland v England rugby in Croke Park in 2007.

Head of Sport Declan McBennett said, “The Mayo victory – and the response to it – shows just how much our national games mean to us as a nation. On television, on RTÉ Player, on radio, online and on social, RTÉ’s coverage was exceptional across the board and a compelling example of the enduring role of public service media. The hurling fed our passion this year, and football rediscovered its soul. RTÉ captured every moment and served the nation brilliantly.”

While the World Cup was predominantly a television and RTÉ Player event, the GAA championship allows RTÉ’s radio services to come alive as both companion and an inspiration across those summer months.

Pitchside Joanne Cantwell was joined by Lee Keegan, Niall Morgan, Peter Canavan and Tomás Ó Sé for live coverage of Mayo v Kerry in the All-Ireland Football Final from Croke Park. Overlooking all the action from Level 7 commentary was provided by Marty Morrissey and Éamonn Fitzmaurice with reporter Damian Lawlor. Pauric Lodge and Paul Flynn were live on RTÉ Radio 1.

Sunday Game Beo on the RTÉ News channel and RTÉ Player brought a full programme as Gaeilge live from Croke Park for the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. Presenter Gráinne McElwain was joined by Gary Brennan and Mícheál Ó Crónín providing analysis and insight of a thrilling final. Irish-language commentary came from Garry Mac Donncha and Dara Ó Cinnéide as well as the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta team of Conall Ó Ciobháin and Seán Ó Domhnaill.

For post-match analysis on The Sunday Game last night Jacqui Hurley was joined by guests Ciaran Whelan, Cora Staunton, Éamonn Fitzmaurice, Enda McGinley, Lee Keegan and Paul Flynn with analysis and highlights of the All-Ireland Football Final as well as a look back at the year in Gaelic Football. An average of 314,000 viewers watched The Sunday Game representing a 37% share of the available audience. To date there have been 71,500 streams on RTÉ Player.

RTÉ’s social media for the GAA Championship saw a total of 6.7 million engagements with 86.4 million video views and 125 million content impressions.

Castlebar is braced for a magical and momentous Mayo homecoming this evening. RTÉ News will have coverage of the homecoming across radio and tv news bulletins tonight. Thousands will attend a special homecoming event at Hastings Insurance McHale Park in Castlebar, with the team expected to arrive at around 6pm.

Meanwhile, an average of 324,000 viewers tuned in to Up For The Match – Live From Croke Park on RTÉ One representing a share of 38% of the available audience on Saturday night. To date Up For The Match – Live from Croke Park has had 57,000 streams on RTÉ Player.

Presenters Jacqui Hurley, Dáithí Ó Sé, Louise Cantillon and three hundred excited Mayo and Kerry fans got the nation in the mood ahead of the epic final. During the show Mayo’s Conor Mortimer and Kerry All-Ireland winner Darran O’Sullivan looked back at the last time Kerry and Mayo went head-to-head on Gaelic football’s biggest day in the 2006 All-Ireland Final.

-ENDS- 

Rayna Connery, RTÉ Senior Communications Lead