Club championships shown for free in nursing homes and hospitals
Regardless of where they live Meath GAA fans, both at home and abroad, will now be able to keep a close watch on how their local teams are performing - without having the leave the comforts of their own living space.
This week Meath GAA Co Committee announced that they had signed up to "a streaming agreement" with Clubber TV to show 26 games each year for the next three years.
A very significant aspect of the new arrangement is that games will be made available to residents of nursing homes and hospitals free of charge.
The first game in the agreement was screened live last Saturday when Kilmessan took on and defeated Trim in the SHC at Pairc Tailteann. It was a good choice as Kilmessan caused something of a shock by overcoming their opponents in what was described as "a thriller."
Beaming the games live also has a wider, deeper significance asserted the Secretary of Meath GAA, Ciaran Flynn. "This (agreement) will allow us to broadcast our games to a wider audience," he said. "We are confident that this partnership will significantly enhance the visibility of our games and deepen our engagement with supporters across the country and the world."
Among the games to be streamed live are the SFC, IFC, JFC and Junior B football finals as well as the Junior B decider along with the SFC semi-finals, one IFC and JFC semi-final, two SFC quarter-finals, one IFC quarter-final and the SFC relegation final.
Hurling too will feature with the SHC final shown live along with the SHC B and IHC showdowns and two SHC semi-finals. Also included in the package are 10 group games including contests in each of the final two rounds of the Senior Hurling Championship, the Regional Football Championship final and two semi-finals.
The annual pass for Clubber TV is €149.99 and in all the station aims to broadcast up to 1,000 games this year from various counties. "The Meath GAA Championship holds a special place in Irish sports and we're excited to deliver it's action to fans both locally and around the world," said Jimmy Doyle CEO of Clubber TV.
However many will regard of availability of games to the ill or elderly as particularly attractive part of the package. "One welcome element of this partnership is that all nursing homes in the county and Our Lady's Hospital in Navan will have free access to these games and we will be working with them on the logistics of this over the coming days," added Brian Kelly, PRO of Meath GAA.
Cllr Linda Nelson Murray said the agreement between Meath GAA and Clubber TV is a very positive move as it will make available games to people who might not, otherwise, be able to get a glimpse of their local team as they go about striving for some championship glory.
"This is brilliant news and well done Brian Kelly and all at Meath GAA," she added. "I spoke to Brian a good few months ago about people in nursing homes getting to watch GAA matches for free and in fairness it’s now happened thanks to his hard work and thanks to Clubber."