While this afternoon's All-Ireland final between Dublin and Kerry was always going to be a landmark occasion, it was given a bit of added historic significance due to its availability across the Irish Sea.
The BBC have played a part in broadcasting GAA games for quite some time, with BBC NI's coverage of both the Ulster championship and All-Ireland series improving dramatically in recent times. Viewers of the Northern Ireland version of the channel have been able to access the GAA for quite some time, although a whole new audience was introduced to the sport this afternoon.
After a number of Brit's were impressed with hurling after last week's final between Limerick and Kilkenny was available to view on the iPlayer, an even larger audience managed to tune into today's fixture.
That is because the All-Ireland football final was broadcast live on BBC Two across the UK for the first time, marking a historic move that will introduce the sport to many members of the British public for the first time.
This is all part of the GAA's new broadcasting agreement with the BBC, which will see at least one All-Ireland final shown on terrestrial television across the United Kingdom each year.
British public blown away as GAA shown on BBC for first time
The BBC's GAA coverage has been very good in recent times, but they certainly pulled out all the stop for the first All-Ireland final shown on the channel across the UK.
That included bringing in the hilariously random start-studded quarter of Paul Mescal, Patrick Kielty, Dara O'Briain, and Adrian Dunbar ahead of the game.
"It was the defining factor of my childhood" 💬
Paul Mescal describes the importance of Gaelic football to him 🏐🏆
Watch the All-Ireland football final LIVE on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer ⤵️#BBCGAA— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) July 30, 2023
In fairness, Mescal, Kielty, and O'Briain all represented their counties at minor level, while Dunbar is heavily involved in GAA in Fermanagh.
Once the game got underway, even those who had never watched a second of Gaelic football previously were hugely impressed with the product on offer.
The fact that the BBC is screening the GAA All-Ireland Final right across these islands is a very welcome tonal shift.
If you haven’t experienced Gaelic Football before, you *must* watch. Unbelievably exciting and confounding in equal measure!pic.twitter.com/FdtXhq8fiS— Owen Williams 🏴 (@OwsWills) July 30, 2023
Now worried I’m going to go hoarse this afternoon shouting HANDBALL from reflex during the #GAA All Ireland Football final. From 3pm on BBC2, the first networked live transmission of one of the greatest sporting fixtures IN THE WORLD. pic.twitter.com/w5SEJWbwwC
— Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) July 30, 2023
Irish Gaelic football final on BBC 2 - Dublin vs Kerry - hell of an atmosphere!!👀
— Ian Parfitt 🏴⚫⚪ (@IanParfitt) July 30, 2023
No idea about the wild rules of Irish football but it looks far faster paced and better to watch than regular football or rugby, and 100x better than any American football 😂 #BBCGAA
— Real Deal (@therealdeal506) July 30, 2023
Just watching the GAA on BBC 2.
WTF 😳😳😳😳😳— Frank Thompson (@FrankTh60113225) July 30, 2023
My recent visit to Dublin has certainly changed me.
I’m now watching the All-Ireland Senior Football Final on BBC 2.
A game that is a cross between football, rugby, and karate.
I’m going for Kerry.— Ian Kirke (@ianjkirke) July 30, 2023
Never watched Gaelic football before but tuned into the All-Ireland final on BBC two and it's fucking brilliant!
— Lauren (@hunteradactyl) July 30, 2023
Gaelic football is a good game, why isn't it on more often? #BBC
Full stadium, the purely amateur players receive no payment & are there for the sport/fun of it, a refreshing change— .Dear Aunty isn't on Mastodon...or Threadsapp (@dearaunty) July 30, 2023
BBC using every possible Irish person on their payroll as part of their #AllirelandFootballFinal coverage.
Obviously the BBC's relationship with Irish sport, and the GAA, is complex, but it's great to see this brilliant sport being brought to a wider audience.— Rob Pritchard (@RobPritchard78) July 30, 2023
More #gaa on #bbc please. This is fantastic. https://t.co/8TRIlR9oxk
— Anthony Sullivan (@AntonSuli) July 30, 2023
One thing on my bucket list is to go to a major GAA gamer- and have to say really enjoying the Croke Park coverage, free to air on BBC 2- though quite how my good friends in the Dublin and Kerry camps are feeling right now.......
— Mike Vince (@halo_straight) July 30, 2023
Am loving the gaelic football being on the BBC! C'mon Dublin!!
— Amanda Cahill-Ripley (@AmandaCahillRip) July 30, 2023
This has been a very entertaining game to watch, no gimmicks just pure sporting theatre #bbcgaa
— Neil Watson (@WattyRacing) July 30, 2023
First time watching the All-Ireland and I’m definitely enjoying myself (still slightly fuzzy on the rules but seems like a good match!) #BBCGAA
— IZ🌻🇺🇦 (@eurovizzy) July 30, 2023
Great to see the Gaelic football All-Ireland Final on the BBC. Cracking game too. #BBCGAA
— Jason Evans 🏴 🇪🇺 (@EvansTheCrime) July 30, 2023
You couldn't blame them for enjoying what they were seeing.
In fairness, some of the viewers were having a little bit of trouble interpreting the rules of the sport.
Do players have to carry the ball up the pitch or can they kick it along the ground to another player like regular football? #BBCGAA
— Real Deal (@therealdeal506) July 30, 2023
Do players have to bounce or kick the ball while running with it or is it a choice? #BBCGAA
— Real Deal (@therealdeal506) July 30, 2023
You mean there are rules in Gaelic football?? #bbcgaa
— Paul 💙 (@I_am_the_Paulus) July 30, 2023
Never seen GAA before, but very much enjoying #bbcgaa coverage today. Nice to see teams going forward in a football game rather than sideways/backwards. Do goals make the difference if points are tied at the end?
— treborchew (@treborchew10) July 30, 2023
This was without doubt a big occasion for the GAA. The sport continues to grow in popularity in the UK, with this deal with the BBC likely to only increase its popularity as a new group are introduced to it for the first time.
They certainly seemed to enjoy their first experience of Gaelic football.
SEE ALSO: Dara Ó Briain Explains To BBC The Greatness Of The GAA's Tribute To Sinéad O'Connor
