Ireland and Croke Park are set to feel much closer for an 85 year old Irish emigrant and Tipperary supporter, Michael Mooney, who will be giving his beloved Tipp the biggest cheer this weekend from the comfort of his sitting room in Alexandria, Virginia, a suburb of Washington DC, as he live streams the All Ireland Senior Hurling Final replay on GAAGO.
Michael originally from St. Brigid’s Street in Thurles, who emigrated to America in 1953, may be 3,000 miles away from Croke Park, but this hasn’t dampened his love of hurling and his support for his home county of Tipperary. Throughout the 2014 Championship, Michael has been ardently following Tipperary’s march to the final through GAAGO, the GAA and RTÉ’s online streaming service for Gaelic Games outside of Ireland.
Speaking from his home in Washington, Michael Mooney said “This year the Championship has been a pure joy for me – not only are Tipp in the Final, but I have been able to closely follow the matches at home on GAAGO for the first time. To say that I’m thrilled is an understatement. My good neighbor Michelle Zelsman subscribed to GAAGO and she has it streamed on the laptop and hooked up to the TV. The only thing that will top this for me is a win for Tipp on Saturday.”
“I grew up just up the road from Semple Stadium and I remember a time when it was just a field. My brother JB Mooney played on the Tipperary All-Ireland winning team of 1945 so I have a real grá for hurling. It is something that has never left me despite all the years that I have been in America. Last Summer I travelled home to Ireland and attended a match in Semple Stadium – it was a real home coming,” added Michael Mooney.
Launched in May this year, the reach and impact of GAAGO has been building throughout the Championship, with Gaelic Games fans now in over 150 countries around the world streaming games live and on demand on GAAGO. Everywhere from Afghanistan to Jamaica, fans have been watching the Championship on their laptop, phones, and tablets – anything with an internet access. So far, the highest number of streams of GAAGO has come from North America, followed by Great Britain, Australia and Canada.
Dónal Moriarty, Product Leader, GAAGO said “We are thrilled for Michael and for the fans all over the world who have enjoyed the excitement of the 2014 Championship and the new reality of watching Gaelic Games on GAAGO, no matter where they are in the world. The response from fans has been phenomenal and RTÉ and the GAA are really pleased to have been able to successfully bring this service for the first time to fans worldwide.”
This Saturday’s All Ireland Senior Hurling Final can be purchased from www.gaago.ie for €14. The replay match is included in the package for GAAGO Season Pass subscribers.
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