The Munster Camogie Final between Cork and Tipperary is to be broadcast live this Saturday afternoon via Irish TV to a potential audience on the Sky platform and online into millions of homes across Ireland and around the world.
This is a fine example of how new partnerships around broadcast media can be developed to bring images of sports that would not otherwise get onto mainstream platforms to a genuine, self selecting mainstream audience.
It came as do so many things from a moment of ‘why not?’ inspiration, in this case from Munster Camogie PRO Fiona Casey.
“Sitting at home on the couch in Kerry last summer, I was watching a documentary on Irish TV and a light bulb went off somewhere that this could be an outlet for our games.”
“In September last year, I met with the Head of Sales & Marketing at Irish TV Fergal O’Connor, with a view to putting out a number of stand alone programs running over a six month period to provide consistent awareness and increase the profile of Camogie in Munster.”
“He liked the proposal. We talked figures, we got to work, we stalled, we got back to work again. After a flurry of final meetings in April with members of the Council and Irish TV, we decided on showcasing our flagship day, and take the huge step to not only go with the 6 programs, but to broadcast the senior final live, which will beamed into 15 million homes.”
“While the costs are significant, their are talks ongoing about a potential sponsor to cover the next five programmes this year and who knows where we get to in the future.”
“This is a huge move, a ‘putting money where mouth is move’, and putting bums on seats into the future. We must put a value on our game, on our players, and officials. This, I believe is the first step to taking us out of the shadows.”
It really is a move to be applauded showing what is possible with the right inspiration and the right energy.
