Gaelic sports back on Sky

Irish sports are set for a return to British pub screens following a six-week hiatus after the collapse of Setanta in the UK.

Pubs across the country suffered a drop in revenue as many relied on drawing in Gaelic games fans to boost weekend trade.

An agreement between the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and Setanta Sports in Ireland means the games will now be screened here for commercial subscribers for the rest of this season on Sky Channel 437 from 9 August.

A temporary agreement allowed last weekend's matches to be screened on Sky channel 167.

President of the GAA Criostóir Ó Cuana said: "I warmly welcome this initiative which is the culmination of behind the scenes work undertaken by the Association as soon as the problem arose.

"Our overseas units and their continued passion for our games form a vital strand of the GAA given the large and vibrant Irish communities that are dotted across Britain."

Setanta Sports welcomed the development saying: "Setanta's origins are steeped in the GAA and the company began by broadcasting our national games to the Irish abroad. This latest agreement with the GAA means that this tradition will continue and Gaelic Games fans across the UK can enjoy the All-Ireland Championship action."

Andrew Connor, managing director of FT Pubs & Bars which owns 10 Irish pubs across London, said at the start of July that the absence of GAA sports meant it was losing anything between £500 and £1,000 per site per week in extra trade.

The GAA signed an agreement with a company made up of former directors of Setanta in the UK, who already have a contract with Sky, to broadcast the games on Sky.

The coverage is sponsored by Magners Irish Cider.