An average audience of 945,000 people tuned in to RTÉ Two to watch Ireland's historic Grand Slam win against Wales last Saturday making it the most watched programme of the year so far on all channels available in Ireland.
The minute peak for the 5.30 to 8.26pm broadcast was recorded at 7.26pm when almost 1.2 million people and a 75% share of the available audience tuned in to RTÉ Two in homes across the country for the heart-stopping finale of the dramatic game.
An average match audience of 753,000 people tuned in for Ireland's games during this year’s tournament, representing an increase of 175,000 viewers compared to last year.
In a massive day of sport on RTÉ Two, huge audiences continued to tune in throughout Saturday evening and into the early hours of Sunday morning, culminating in Bernard Dunne's dramatic WBA Super-Bantamweight World Title bout which attracted an average audience of 585,000 and 54% average audience share from 11.34 pm to 12.19am. T
he bout drew a peak audience of 637,000 viewers at 12.18am, just before Dunne knocked out his opponent, Ricardo Cordoba.
Glen Killane, Group Head of Sport, RTÉ, said: 'This was truly the most exciting and dramatic day for Irish Sport with the dreams of both Ireland rugby supporters and boxing fans coming true in such exhilarating style and lifting the mood of the entire nation.
'Congratulations to the Irish rugby team and Bernard Dunne on their historic victories. As the public service broadcaster we were delighted to broadcast live and free to air coverage of these thrilling events to ensure that everybody could share in their successes.'
