Write a commentGAA coverage by the BBC is once again under the microscope with MLA Sinéad Ennis claiming the BBC is continuing to ignore GAA - the largest spectator sport on the island of Ireland.
“I welcome the BBC’s investment in coverage of local sporting fixtures through their partnership with the Irish Football Association.
“However, it’s abundantly clear that the BBC have once again ignored the largest spectator sport on the island of Ireland by failing to include any further investment for coverage of GAA championship games including GAA club games which regularly attract some of the biggest attendances in the north.
“There is anger among GAA fans and licence payers at what appears to be institutional bias within the BBC against Gaelic games.
“Over a quarter of a million people attend GAA matches in the north over the season with countless more wanting to watch or listen to the GAA coverage whether on the TV, radio or online.
“Sporting organisations and broadcasters have a responsibility to ensure there is equality of access to sporting coverage and this absolutely includes the 250,000 Gaels in the north.
“My colleague Chris Hazzard will be writing to the Director General of the BBC and I will be meeting with the BBC on Monday to raise our opposition to their decades of neglect towards televising and mainstreaming gaelic games”.
