RTÉ Sport

2022 was the year that Irish sporting stars dominated the world across multiple disciplines and were brought to an Irish audience by RTÉ Sport. In rowing, gymnastics, boxing and rugby, Ireland produced world champions and world players of the year in unprecedented numbers, ensuring that the success of Irish sport resonated way beyond our shores. Of the top 10 most watched programmes on RTÉ, nine came from live sport, as sport continues to unite, inspire and enthral our audiences.

In a year when two major tournaments – the women’s Euros and the men’s soccer World Cup – dominated the summer and winter landscapes, RTÉ Sport’s unmatched audiences were captivated and thrilled by the brilliance of Messi, Mbappé and Mead. RTÉ brought two huge tournaments in full to audiences on free-to-air television so that every boy and girl could witness their sporting idols. In addition, the issues of inclusivity, equality and diversity were given prominence like never before, given that Qatar was hosting the men’s World Cup.

European rugby returned to RTÉ for the first time in 16 years, to join the Six Nations and URC tournaments, as the scope of the RTÉ Sport rights portfolio expanded.

At championship, league and club levels, the GAA continued to grab our attention and thrill our senses as a generational talent, David Clifford, scaled new heights and the Limerick hurlers continued their quest for sporting immortality. Irish rowers, boxers and gymnasts not only took on but beat the world in their respective disciplines, and all their effort and glory was captured for our audiences across RTÉ platforms.

Who will forget the night our women’s international soccer team qualified for the World Cup? In their moment of triumph, they remembered the community of Creeslough while they propelled themselves onto the global stage that is next summer’s headline sporting event.

We can confidently look forward to 2023 across all platforms knowing that when Ireland takes on the world in men’s rugby and women’s soccer, from Paris to Perth, RTÉ will be there bring our audiences closer to all the live sporting action.

Championing Women’s Sport RTÉ was the home of women’s soccer in July, with the live broadcast of all 31 games of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 – a first for Irish prime-time television – continuing RTÉ’s commitment to women’s sport. RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player were also there as the Republic of Ireland beat Scotland in Glasgow in what was the biggest game in the history of Irish women’s football. The win for Vera Pauw’s side saw them make history by qualifying directly for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand next summer, and RTÉ will be there for the entire tournament, having secured broadcast rights through an EBU agreement with FIFA covering 28 territories on behalf of 32 EBU member public service broadcasters.