Ireland's dominant 29-7 Six Nations win over Wales on Saturday attracted a peak audience of 841,000 on RTÉ2, while viewers also flocked to their screens to watch the the Allianz Football League encounter between Kerry and Dublin, and the Dublin Racing Festival on an action-packed weekend of sport.
An average of 729,000 viewers tuned in to watch Andy Farrell's charges win at the Aviva Stadium, which constituted a 66% share of those watching TV at the time. The match generated 96,000 streams on RTÉ Player.
Later on Saturday evening, Dublin suffered their second Allianz Football League defeat in a row, with Kerry prevailing in Tralee.
An average of 444,000 viewers tuned in to the GAA coverage on RTÉ2 – an audience share of 35%. Viewership peaked at 494,000 at 8.12pm, while there were also 27,000 streams on RTÉ Player.
RTÉ's televised sporting action got underway on Friday night as Ireland defeated their Welsh counterparts in the Under-20 Six Nations Championship at Musgrave Park, with an average of 204,000 tuning in and a share of 17%, peaking at 261,000 at 8.37pm.
The Dublin Racing Festival from Leopardstown on Saturday on RTÉ One attracted an average audience of 83,000 with a share of 9% while Sunday's card averaged 108,000, with a 14% share.
Sunday also saw the Six Nations continue on RTÉ2 as France hosted Italy in Paris, watched by an average of 240,000 viewers and with a share of 27%. Numbers peaked at 273,000 at 4.38pm, while there were 23,000 streams on RTÉ Player.
Sunday evening's wrap of the weekend's GAA action on RTÉ2's Allianz League Sunday was watched by an average of 110,000 viewers, with a share of 12% of the available audience.
Commenting on the figures, RTÉ Head of Sport Declan McBennett said: "Across rugby, GAA and racing, the desire for free-to-air sport is clear for all to see. Events like those from the weekend allow people to enjoy sport as a collective and witness those who are wearing their jerseys and silks with pride, and providing enjoyment for some and inspiration for others."
There's no let up this weekend as Wales take on Scotland live in the Six Nations on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player at 1.30pm on Saturday, with full highlights of Ireland's trip to Paris at 10.50pm.
All-Ireland champions Limerick face Henry Shefflin's Galway in the Allianz Hurling League on Saturday GAA Live (6.40pm, RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player), with all the action recapped on Allianz League Sunday at 9.30pm on Sunday night.
TV viewing figures from TAM Ireland/Nielsen
RTÉ Player figures from AT Internet Playcounts
