Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports in the Republic of Ireland
The COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland has had a significant impact on the conduct of sports, affecting both competitive sports leagues and tournaments and recreational sports.
In March 2021, eir Sport's owner Eir announced it would not be bidding for the rights to sports events, as the closure of pubs in particular had made its business model difficult to sustain.[1] However, eir Sport did vow to see out their existing contracts, including showing games from the 2021 National Hurling League and 2021 National Football League.[2]
Background[edit]
Countless sporting events were affected by the arrival of the virus on 29 February 2020. Following the Taoiseach's 12 March announcement from Washington, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) and Football Association of Ireland (FAI) all immediately announced the two-week suspension of games.[3]
On 19 June, the Government of Ireland announced that all sporting activity in Ireland could resume from 29 June.[4] A fund of €70 million was announced by the Department of Sport to get sport in Ireland restarted.[5]
By late July, small numbers of spectators were permitted into games on both sides of the border.[6]
On 7 August, TDs—including Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance Seán Fleming and Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora Colm Brophy—called for all sporting fixtures and events in Kildare, Laois and Offaly to be cancelled after a significant increase of COVID-19 cases in the three counties.[7]
Under new restrictions announced by the Government of Ireland on 18 August, all sporting events had to take place behind closed doors again.[8] Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that all spectators from sporting events would be banned until at least 13 September.[9]
As a second and third wave of COVID-19 rapidly arrived in the country from October and December 2020, Level 5 lockdown restrictions were reimposed nationally, which saw elite and professional sports continue behind closed doors, with no other matches or events permitted to take place, while all gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools, tennis and golf clubs closed at 6pm on New Year's Eve.[10][11][12]
On 8 January 2021, the government announced it would be extending its Sports Capital Grant funding deadline for applications until 1 March.[13]
Under a new plan for easing Level 5 restrictions announced by the Government on 30 March, elite-level senior GAA matches and training could resume from 19 April. From 26 April, outdoor sports facilities (such as pitches, golf courses and tennis courts) could reopen and underage non-contact outdoor training in pods of 15 could recommence for all exercise activities that could be delivered outdoors including dance.[14][15][16]