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Viewers in north blocked from Irish Euro 2016 commentary by RTE

Republic of Ireland's Shane Long celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Jonathan Walters during the International friendly with the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on May 27, 2016. Picture by Brian Lawless, Press Association
Republic of Ireland's Shane Long celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Jonathan Walters during the International friendly with the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on May 27, 2016. Picture by Brian Lawless, Press Association Republic of Ireland's Shane Long celebrates scoring his side's first goal with Jonathan Walters during the International friendly with the Netherlands at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin on May 27, 2016. Picture by Brian Lawless, Press Association

IRISH language enthusiasts hoping to watch Euro 2016 games with Irish audio commentary have been dealt a blow after RTÉ confirmed that coverage of the games will be blocked to viewers in the north.

Campaigners were claiming victory on Monday after RTÉ, who had initially rejected calls for an Irish language commentary option, had a change of heart.

Concubhar Ó Liatháin, events manager at the Belfast Cultúrlann McAdam Ó Fiaich, had launched an online petition calling for the broadcaster to provide the service.

The campaign drew support from across Ireland as well as Irish speakers overseas.

But now it has emerged that only a small number of viewers with a Saorview box will be able to access the commentary after RTÉ confirmed that all their Euro coverage will be blocked to the north for “contractual reasons”.

Mr Ó Liatháin spoke of his disappointment at the development.

“This issue arises because of the whole broadcasting rights debacle," he said.

The Good Friday agreement people were promised we could watch RTÉ and all the rest of it, but because of the way digital broadcasting has taken over you can’t do that as readily now.

"The signal is automatically encrypted once it comes up the border."

Mr Ó Liatháin has said there is a “significant audience” in the north that would like the option of Irish language commentary available for sport.

“It’s a denial of my identity to say that I can’t watch whatever match I’m watching in my own choice of language,” he said.

The former public appointment to the board of TG4 added: “It’s very important to me that people do watch it, because otherwise if it dies because of a lack of demand then that is an opportunity lost.

"I want the likes of the Olympic Games to be available with an Irish commentary option, I want rugby matches to be available with an Irish language option. It’s a nut and bolts issue of how partition affects the ordinary people.”