Jarlath Burns, the President of the GAA, offered a poignant message to the Irish diaspora at the conclusion of the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final in Dublin.
“For those people, who are our diaspora, who left this country because of war and famine, and for your ancestors who had to leave it, we are thinking of you today as you watch us," Burns, a native of Co Armagh, said before the presentation of the Liam MacCarthy cup to the victorious Clare side.
“You are in Croke Park today, if not in body, but in spirit, and we thank the countries who took you in and gave you jobs and allowed you to make a new name for yourselves with our native games.”
Darran Marshall of BBC Northern Ireland shared a clip of Burns' comments:
“We thank the countries that took you in, gave you jobs, and allowed you to make a new name for yourselves.”
GAA President Jarlath Burns’ message to those who fled war & famine. pic.twitter.com/bVwtKhVkUJ
— Darran Marshall (@DarranMarshall) July 21, 2024
Indeed, as Irish people left Ireland, they brought with them their ancient Gaelic games, which now enjoy thriving hubs in North America, South America, Australia, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
Burns' comments on Sunday can be seen as a deft reminder to the propagators of anti-immigrant sentiment in Ireland of the country's own long history of emigration.
Earlier in the day, Marty Morrissey, the Gaelic games correspondent for RTÉ News, also offered a swift nod to the wide-reaching Irish diaspora who were tuning in from around the world to watch the pinnacle of Ireland's ancient game of hurling.
"For the next 70 minutes, Ireland comes to a halt," Morrissey said as the Cork and Clare panels took the field for what ended up being a thrilled All Ireland Senior Hurling Final.
"You did well to get a ticket.
"If you're anywhere else in the world, let me say - buenas tardes, bonjour como télé vu.
"If you happen to be in Ned Devine's in The Bronx, New York - hi everyone, how are you doing?"
The Irish diaspora had more opportunities than ever before to tune into Sunday's hurling final as it was shown live in Ireland via RTÉ, live in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two, and live on the global streaming app GAAGo.
RTÉ said on Monday that an average of 1,037,000 viewers were tuned into The Sunday Game Live on RTÉ2, with another 9,000 watching on RTÉ2+1.
The RTÉ2 audience represented a share of 77% of those watching TV at the time. Television coverage peaked at 1,231,000 as the game reached its climax.
Meanwhile, the live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport drew 1.07 million page views.
Sunday was the first time ever that the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final was broadcast live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in the UK. On social media, plenty of British viewers expressed their delight and fascination with the game they had previously not known about.
I have no idea what’s going on but this is an incredible spectacle.
These blokes are super-human, brave and made of absolute steel.
#AllIrelandHurlingFinal #GAA #Cork #Clare #hurling #CorkvClare pic.twitter.com/ikkMbD0jwp
— Karl Cunliffe (@KDCunliffe) July 21, 2024
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