Close to a million people watched RTÉ’s coverage of Mayo’s historic win against Kerry in the All-Ireland final on Sunday.
An average of 944,000 viewers, representing an 82% share of the available audience, tuned in to watch Mayo lift the Sam Maguire Cup after a 75-year wait.
The peak minute of coverage of the match at 5:11pm had 1.1 million viewers and there have been 566,000 streams to date on RTÉ Player.
Mayo captain Jack Coyne
Group Head of RTE Sport Declan McBennett said, “The Mayo victory – and the response to it – shows just how much our national games mean to us as a nation.
“On television, on RTÉ Player, on radio, online and on social, RTÉ’s coverage was exceptional across the board and a compelling example of the enduring role of public service media.
“The hurling fed our passion this year, and football rediscovered its soul. RTÉ captured every moment and served the nation brilliantly.”
RTÉ had said that while the World Cup was predominantly a television and RTÉ Player event, the GAA championship “allows RTÉ’s radio services to come alive as both companion and an inspiration across those summer months”.
For yesterday’s coverage of the final, Joanne Cantwell was joined by Lee Keegan, Niall Morgan, Peter Canavan and Tomás Ó Sé pitch-side in Croke Park.
Marty Morrissey and Éamonn Fitzmaurice with reporter Damian Lawlor provided live commentary and Pauric Lodge and Paul Flynn were live on RTÉ Radio 1.
Sunday Game Beo on the RTÉ News channel and RTÉ Player also brought a full programme as Gaeilge live from Croke Park, with presenter Gráinne McElwain joined by Gary Brennan and Mícheál Ó Crónín providing analysis and insight.
Irish-language commentary came from Garry Mac Donncha and Dara Ó Cinnéide as well as the RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta team of Conall Ó Ciobháin and Seán Ó Domhnaill.
For post-match analysis on The Sunday Game on Sunday night, Jacqui Hurley was joined by guests Ciaran Whelan, Cora Staunton, Éamonn Fitzmaurice, Enda McGinley, Lee Keegan and Paul Flynn with analysis and highlights of the All-Ireland Football Final as well as a look back at the year in Gaelic Football.
On Saturday night, an average of 324,000 viewers tuned in to Up For The Match – Live From Croke Park on RTÉ One
An average of 314,000 viewers watched The Sunday Game representing a 37% share of the available audience. To date there have been 71,500 streams on RTÉ Player.
RTÉ’s social media for the GAA Championship saw a total of 6.7 million engagements with 86.4 million video views and 125 million content impressions.
As Castlebar braces itself for a momentous Mayo homecoming this evening, RTÉ News will have coverage across radio and TV news bulletins tonight.
Thousands will attend a special homecoming event at Hastings Insurance McHale Park in Castlebar, with the team expected to arrive at around 6pm.
On Saturday night, an average of 324,000 viewers tuned in to Up For The Match – Live From Croke Park on RTÉ One, representing a share of 38% of the available audience on Saturday night. To date Up For The Match – Live from Croke Park has had 57,000 streams on RTÉ Player.