RTÉ has today launched its 2025 GAA Championships coverage with a powerful film that explores Ireland’s passionate and enduring relationship with our national games.
The film features Seán Ó Maoilchiaráin —the first Galway senior footballer from the Aran Islands—and was shot on Inis Mór, at Kilmurvey Beach and Kilronan Ball Alley. It showcases international landmarks such as the world-famous Dún Aonghusa.
This season’s live TV coverage begins on The Sunday Game Live on Sunday, 6 April, on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player when Joanne Cantwell will present live coverage of Donegal v Derry in the Ulster Senior Football Championship from Ballybofey (throw-in 2.00pm).
That evening on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, The Sunday Game highlights show returns with Jacqui Hurley at the helm.
This season sees the return of Kilkenny Hurling legend Henry Shefflin to The Sunday Game and The Sunday Game Live, plus the arrival of Monaghan Football great Conor McManus alongside Derry’s Chrissy McKaigue, both of whom have recently retired after stellar playing careers.
There will be live coverage of all four provincial Football finals as well as the Munster and Leinster Hurling Finals, the Joe McDonagh Cup and Tailteann Cup Finals, plus the All-Ireland Semi-Finals in Football, Hurling and Camogie.
Irish language television commentary will be available on select games from June 7 starting with the Munster Hurling Final and including the Leinster Hurling Final, All-Ireland Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals in both Football and Hurling along with the All-Ireland Camogie Final and the Tailteann Cup Final.
RTÉ Radio 1 will have live commentary, updates and reports on all the Championship action from this weekend on Sunday Sport and a specially extended Saturday Sport throughout the Championship season. There’ll be previews and reviews across Game On on RTÉ 2FM and on Morning Ireland on RTÉ Radio 1. And there will be full round-ups of the highlights and main talking points on the weekend television news bulletins at Six One and Nine O’Clock News with RTÉ’s GAA Correspondent Marty Morrissey.
The Championship, presented by Damian Lawlor, returns to RTÉ Radio 1 every Friday from April 4th at 10.00pm featuring news, previews and exclusive interviews to set you up for following all the weekend’s action across RTÉ Radio, Television and Online.
RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta holds the Irish-language rights to all GAA Championship matches, and will be bringing listeners a bumper summer of sports coverage with live commentary, reporting, post-match interviews and analysis on its weekend sports shows Spórt an tSathairn, Spórt an Tráthnóna on Saturday and Spórt an Lae on Sunday. The live radio coverage of the championship will feature many well-known analysts in both football and hurling.
Raidió Na Gaeltachta’s coverage begins with Spórt an Tráthnóna on Saturday 5 April from 8pm with live commentary by Gearóidín Nic an Iomaire from Páirc na nGael in the Bronx in New York, as Galway take on New York in the Connacht Senior Football Championship.
“The sense of ‘championship’ remains unique in the Irish sporting psyche,” said RTÉ Head of Sport, Declan McBennett.
“Whether it’s to Clones, Semple, the Hyde or ultimately Croke Park dreams are made and crushed in the heat of a Championship battle. RTÉ remains uniquely privileged to capture and transmit those moments across our platforms and as with each passing year we hope for a dynamic thrilling and enthralling spectacle across all codes.”
Further Reading for Sport for Business members: AIB, GAA and Camogie Extend for Five More Years
SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
The tingle of excitement is real at the start of the season. London and Roscommon get things started on Saturday on GAA+ followed by Donegal and Derry on Sunday on RTÉ2.
WHAT’S UP NEXT?
The Championship gets underway this weekend, heralding 16 weeks of top-class football action.
Our twice-daily news bulletins land Monday to Friday, 50 weeks of the year.
MEMBERSHIP AND EVENTS
AIB, Allianz and the GAA are among the 300+ members of the Sport for Business Community. Our community brings together leaders in sport and business and spotlights their work. Our coverage of Gaelic Games is in partnership with AIB.
The Sport for Business Membership comprises over 300 organisations, including all the leading sports and sponsors, as well as commercial and state agencies.
