Sports radio blow for Irish ex-pats
Thousands of Irish emigrants in Britain and overseas will lose access to RTÉ radio coverage of Irish sport if new plans by the national broadcaster go ahead.
RTÉ aims to replace sport with other programmes on its medium wave and long wave services by July 1.
Foreign affairs minister Dermot Ahern said today that the Irish emigrant community abroad depend on the coverage to keep in touch with Irish sport and he urged RTÉ to reconsider its plans.
“There is a vast swathe of the Irish diaspora who tune in for live sports coverage and results every day and particularly at the weekend,” he said.
Mr Ahern had talks with RTÉ’s director general Cathal Goan this weekend on the issue.
“I appeal to RTÉ to revisit its plans to change its services in light of the hardship it will cause to listeners in Britain and overseas,” he said.
The issue was also raised earlier this week with Mr Ahern by Senator Pascal Mooney, a broadcaster who lived in the UK for several years in the 1980sand 1990s.
