Tyrone Boycott of RTE Continuing Through Final

dixiefly · 20-08-2018 12:09pm #1

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/tyrone-refuse-to-participate-in-any-media-coverage-with-rt-for-allireland-final-clash-with-dublin-37232261.html

So, unsurprisingly, Mickey Harte and Tyrone have confirmed their boycotting of anything to do with RTE for the upcoming game.

I think that RTE should really have pulled out all of the stops to get this resolved. On the other hand perhaps they did and Mickey Harte is not the forgiving kind.

I think there are certainly two sides to this.

In my opinion Mickey was totally out of line in the first instance making comments to RTE regarding the use of Brian Certy, to even consider that you could influence the planning of an independent organisation is laughable.

And it must be said that the sketch on John Murray Show sounded like it it was in totally bad taste and RTE should have made the fullest of apologies and that might have prevented this from kicking off.

JoeA3 · 20-08-2018 12:17pm

I just listened to the sketch for the first time. Yeah, you could say its in bad taste. His daughter was murdered a year or so before it and as part of the sketch, they played that tune "pretty little girl from Omagh...". That was definitely sailing a bit too close to the wind.

All that said, it's crazy that its dragged out 7-8 years later and RTE should have done whatever it takes to resolve it long before now.

jack presley · 20-08-2018 12:23pm

Will leave plenty of air time to fill on the Sunday Game if they win and they can’t do the usual thing in the hotel

BPKS · 20-08-2018 12:31pm

Hopefully all Tyrone folk will boycott 'Up for the Match' and that show is axed.

Its bad enough Dessie will be cheerleading on The Sunday Game.

paul0103 · 20-08-2018 12:38pm

JoeA3 wrote: »

I just listened to the sketch for the first time. Yeah, you could say its in bad taste. His daughter was murdered a year or so before it and as part of the sketch, they played that tune "pretty little girl from Omagh...". That was definitely sailing a bit too close to the wind.

All that said, it's crazy that its dragged out 7-8 years later and RTE should have done whatever it takes to resolve it long before now.

It was 5 months after the murder. A horrible act by RTE, and Mickey Harte is certainly right to boycott the station for good if he likes.

puzl · 20-08-2018 12:41pm

Jesus ****....was this an oversight on someone's part? This seems incredible misguided and cruel. What am I missing here?

bruschi · 20-08-2018 12:46pm

dixiefly wrote: »

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/tyrone-refuse-to-participate-in-any-media-coverage-with-rt-for-allireland-final-clash-with-dublin-37232261.html

So, unsurprisingly, Mickey Harte and Tyrone have confirmed their boycotting of anything to do with RTE for the upcoming game.

I think that RTE should really have pulled out all of the stops to get this resolved. On the other hand perhaps they did and Mickey Harte is not the forgiving kind.

I think there are certainly two sides to this.

In my opinion Mickey was totally out of line in the first instance making comments to RTE regarding the use of Brian Certy, to even consider that you could influence the planning of an independent organisation is laughable.

And it must be said that the sketch on John Murray Show sounded like it it was in totally bad taste and RTE should have made the fullest of apologies and that might have prevented this from kicking off.

The skit was completely out of order and Harte was right to be offended.

However, it is what, 7 years on now. Does he really need to hold a grudge for this long? The John Murray show has nothing to do with the hundreds of thousands of GAA fans who watch RTE sport.

It also seems that RTE apologised unreservedly directly to Harte too, despite him saying they didnt. Considering the lies Harte said about sky and their cameras this year alone, he isnt averse to a few lies himself.

http://www.the42.ie/rte-insist-mickey-harte-received-apology-from-john-murray-show-305541-Dec2011/
https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/rte-apologise-to-harte-for-offence-163387.html

paul0103 · 20-08-2018 12:51pm

I'm not the biggest fan of Mickey Harte, but apology or not I wouldn't have any complaints with him holding a grudge for so long. How somebody could even think to broadcast that so close to the murder (not that there would ever be an appropriate time to broadcast it).

There are plenty of other places where the supporters can get their soundbites from the camp.

Speakerboxx · 20-08-2018 12:55pm

bruschi wrote: »

The skit was completely out of order and Harte was right to be offended.

However, it is what, 7 years on now. Does he really need to hold a grudge for this long?

Well his daughter was murdered which is a dreadful thing to happen to any family. The fact that RTE did a skit shortly after that is unforgivable to be honest. They really should have known better.

Breaston Plants · 20-08-2018 12:57pm

What was the skit?

amcalester · 20-08-2018 12:58pm

Not very Christian of him to hold a grudge for so long.

Perhaps someone should write a letter in support of RTÉ to him.

FrancieBrady · 20-08-2018 12:58pm

Why can't Mickey hold the grudge and let Tyrone players and support enjoy their moment fully.

RTE made a mistake as TV and Radio will always do.

Making everybody pay for that is down to Harte.

FrancieBrady · 20-08-2018 1:02pm

Speakerboxx wrote: »

Well his daughter was murdered which is a dreadful thing to happen to any family. The fact that RTE did a skit shortly after that is unforgivable to be honest. They really should have known better.

They should have known better, but the perception is that they mocked his daughter. That is wholly wrong, rightly or wrongly Harte 'took' offence when Murray played a song that is synonymous with Tyrone. He wasn't referencing Michaella Harte.

Are Am Eye · 20-08-2018 1:03pm

I don't think it will affect the build up. There will be plenty of ex Tyrone players and pundits to talk to. And fans. There will be music montages. RTE loves them. And ten minute soliloquies by Joe Brolly (M Lyster: 'Jesus Joe I just asked you did you have any trouble getting in')

A Tyrone player can easily be given man of the match. No awkward presentation necessary.

The televised victory banquet is a bit of a cringe fest and should have been done away with years ago. The celebration should be private to the team and their families.

RTE owes M Harte an apology. But it shouldn't be done to get interviews but because it's the right thing to do.

Sycamore Tree · 20-08-2018 1:06pm

Tyrone will do their talking on the football pitch.

By talking, I mean nasty sledging.
By football pitch, I mean handpassing pitch.

Redsoxfan · 20-08-2018 1:09pm

I think it's odd that retired players are more than happy to speak to and work for RTE. Same guys would not have done so while playing.

Bradlin · 20-08-2018 1:09pm

It was extremely poor taste by RTE, although I don't think even RTE would do something as deliberate as that. Time for Mickey H to forgive and forget. This should be a time for celebration in Tyrone and their exposure should be maximised.

FrancieBrady · 20-08-2018 1:11pm

Are Am Eye wrote: »

I don't think it will affect the build up. There will be plenty of ex Tyrone players and pundits to talk to. And fans. There will be music montages. RTE loves them. And ten minute soliloquies by Joe Brolly (M Lyster: 'Jesus Joe I just asked you did you have any trouble getting in')

A Tyrone player can easily be given man of the match. No awkward presentation necessary.

The televised victory banquet is a bit of a cringe fest and should have been done away with years ago. The celebration should be private to the team and their families.

RTE owes M Harte an apology. But it shouldn't be done to get interviews but because it's the right thing to do.

They already have apologised unequivocally and they did it immediately.

Initially Harte also objected to references to him attending a conference with the Dalai Lana but the affair is now all about his daughter.

Mickey doesn't like to be satirized like every other public figure it seems

FrancieBrady · 20-08-2018 1:13pm

Redsoxfan wrote: »

I think it's odd that retired players are more than happy to speak to and work for RTE. Same guys would not have done so while playing.

Tells you a lot.

Speakerboxx · 20-08-2018 1:14pm

Redsoxfan wrote: »

I think it's odd that retired players are more than happy to speak to and work for RTE. Same guys would not have done so while playing.

money does do wonders.

jon1981 · 20-08-2018 1:14pm

Tough one, this wasn't any death, it was highly violent and broadcasted all over the world with extensive coverage by RTE.

I wouldn't be comfortable saying he "should learn to forgive and get over it"... Could any of us honestly say we could "forgive" and support RTE given the blatant disrespect they showed?

paul0103 · 20-08-2018 1:15pm

FrancieBrady wrote: »

They should have known better, but the perception is that they mocked his daughter. That is wholly wrong, rightly or wrongly Harte 'took' offence when Murray played a song that is synonymous with Tyrone. He wasn't referencing Michaella Harte.

Of course they weren't directly referencing Michaela Harte, but I don't think that is the point. Openly mocking/trolling/satirizing a man who's daughter had been murdered just 5 months previously can never be acceptable.

cruizer101 · 20-08-2018 1:25pm

I find it funny they way people refer to RTE doing this insensitive skit, like the board of directors got together and planned it. John Murray did it, probably with approval from a couple of producers, it wasn't like everyone in RTE had a part in it, in any big organization you will have people who mess up, that doesn't mean you should boycott the whole organization when they have apologized.

jaykay74 · 20-08-2018 1:27pm

cruizer101 wrote: »

I find it funny they way people refer to RTE doing this insensitive skit, like the board of directors got together and planned it. John Murray did it, probably with approval from a couple of producers, it wasn't like everyone in RTE had a part in it, in any big organization you will have people who mess up, that doesn't mean you should boycott the whole organization when they have apologized.

Was he suspended/disciplined over it I wonder ? Maybe they didn't treat it seriously from that point of view.

elefant · 20-08-2018 1:28pm

jon1981 wrote: »

Tough one, this wasn't any death, it was highly violent and broadcasted all over the world with extensive coverage by RTE.

I wouldn't be comfortable saying he "should learn to forgive and get over it"... Could any of us honestly say we could "forgive" and support RTE given the blatant disrespect they showed?

I think that, no matter how much you dislike RTE, you'd surely have to admit they were hardly intentionally mocking a young woman who was brutally murdered on her honeymoon. There was quite clearly a very bad editing decision made, which they apologised for unreservedly, but it wasn't a slight made out of badness.

Mickey Harte has made far, far worse judgment calls himself when it comes to the sensitivities of others.

Billy Mays · 20-08-2018 1:28pm

I wonder does Harte feel he should apologise for giving a character reference for a bloke who sexually assaulted a woman and dumped her on a country road half naked in the middle of the night

FrancieBrady · 20-08-2018 2:22pm

paul0103 wrote: »

Of course they weren't directly referencing Michaela Harte, but I don't think that is the point. Openly mocking/trolling/satirizing a man who's daughter had been murdered just 5 months previously can never be acceptable.

The very public manager of a football team is immune from being satirised?

There is nothing in the skit that shows he was being 'trolled/mocked/satirised' because he had lost a daughter.

Both you and I suggest, those in Tyrone who believe that that was the intention need to get over themselves on that one.

Harte 'took' offence (as anyone is entitled to) that does not mean that offence was intended.

Hesh's Umpire · 20-08-2018 2:28pm

Won't make a blind bit of difference to me.
Will anyone miss those ridiculous interviews with lads basically saying nothing interesting?

bruschi · 20-08-2018 2:28pm

Speakerboxx wrote: »

Well his daughter was murdered which is a dreadful thing to happen to any family. The fact that RTE did a skit shortly after that is unforgivable to be honest. They really should have known better.

of course, but he is holding a grudge with an entire national TV station, and more so specifically the GAA sports section of which had no involvement whatsoever in a radio station skit done by a host an a producer.

If the sketch was done by the Sunday game crew on their broadcast it would be an entirely different matter, but 7 years on, he is holding the whole organisation to blame for something done by a couple of people who have no involvement whatsoever with who is is boycotting.

If Harte never wants to speak with John Murray again or never be on his show, then I would wholeheartedly agree with that, but he is boycotting the Sunday Game specifically when they are not the ones to blame here nor gave him any hassle.

RTE as an organisation apologised, as did the host and the program producers. What more does he want?

ArielAtom · 20-08-2018 2:42pm

Was the RTE ban in place before the offensive sketch due to Harte being pissed off that Brian Carthy was not getting enough gigs from RTE?, the sketch merely gave him additional ammunition.

JoeA3 · 20-08-2018 2:52pm

Yeah, if I recall correctly it all started with the Brian Carthy dispute.

NaiveMelodies · 20-08-2018 3:26pm

JoeA3 wrote: »

Yeah, if I recall correctly it all started with the Brian Carthy dispute.

Correct.

This was the premise for the sketch- the fact a GAA County Manager thought he could dictate who RTE should promote.
Mickey Harte was lobbying in order to get Brian Carthy a promotion.

I mean, could you imagine this happened today? Viral.
A. Manager. Trying. To. Get. His. Journalist. Buddy. Promoted.

The skit isn't funny, like most of the JM Show's skits, and despite the fact the song was about Omagh, not Ballygawley, its use was a pretty idiotic oversight.

But if anyone thinks for one minute Mickey Harte's ego isn't the reason for this RTE ban, ask Séan Cavanagh.

The boycott began before the skit.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/mickey-harte-brian-carthy-and-that-fourpage-letter-to-rte-26741449.html

Turnipman · 20-08-2018 3:41pm

Not all that interested in Gaelic Football, but I have to wonder why RTE Sports would have the slightest interest in interviewing anyone connected with the 2018 All-Ireland football championships runners-up?

flasher0030 · 20-08-2018 4:30pm

Turnipman wrote: »

Not all that interested in Gaelic Football, but I have to wonder why RTE Sports would have the slightest interest in interviewing anyone connected with the 2018 All-Ireland football championships runners-up?

The football championship has been so dire, that at this stage you can wonder why RTE would have the slightest interest in interviewing the winner, never mind the runner up.
Some serious changes needed. Even one of the worst hurling games of the year yesterday in terms of quality managed to muster up boiling point excitement for the last 10 minutes.

ProudDUB · 20-08-2018 4:45pm

Turnipman wrote: »

Not all that interested in Gaelic Football, but I have to wonder why RTE Sports would have the slightest interest in interviewing anyone connected with the 2018 All-Ireland football championships runners-up?

Lol...you almost got me. Well played.

Speakerboxx · 21-08-2018 12:11am

cruizer101 wrote: »

I find it funny they way people refer to RTE doing this insensitive skit, like the board of directors got together and planned it. John Murray did it, probably with approval from a couple of producers, it wasn't like everyone in RTE had a part in it, in any big organization you will have people who mess up, that doesn't mean you should boycott the whole organization when they have apologized.

You are right not everyone in RTE had a part in it but unfortunately the skit was broadcasted by RTE and thats the organisation that is responsible here. One producer working for RTE and doing the skit is enough to say that the RTE are to blame and allowed it to go ahead. This wasn't a one man job. There would have been a group of producers in RTE that would have passed this skit through.

Hearte was very close to his daughter and she was brutally murdered and taken away from him. An apology is not even acceptable for what's involved and to think RTE made a mockery of him in his lowest point of his life says enough really. They really shouldn't think an apology would be acceptable in those circumstances.

Speakerboxx · 21-08-2018 12:14am

FrancieBrady wrote: »

Harte 'took' offence (as anyone is entitled to) that does not mean that offence was intended.

Did you not find what RTE did as inappropriate especially after what he went through?

Noveight · 21-08-2018 12:17am

As if play on the field wasn't going to be one-sided enough, now all the build-up and post match antics will have to be 99% Dublin too.

Speakerboxx · 21-08-2018 12:17am

bruschi wrote: »

RTE as an organisation apologised, as did the host and the program producers. What more does he want?

He doesn't want anything to do with RTE

PTH2009 · 21-08-2018 12:18am

What was actual Siad or emplyed in the skit ??

The_Kew_Tour · 21-08-2018 12:20am

They might be better off Boycotting the final too

bobbyss · 21-08-2018 9:10am

I don't understand the thing about Brian carthy. What's that about? What's he got to do with it?

LuckyLloyd · 21-08-2018 9:11am

bobbyss wrote: »

I don't understand the thing about Brian carthy. What's that about? What's he got to do with it?

It indicates that Harte has had a gripe with RTE going back further than the sketch used as justification for this whole thing.

Dymo · 21-08-2018 9:18am

This is the skit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIL2DcHN6ow

It did seem harmless but naive and a lack of judgement which RTE apologised for straight away. I've seen it reported that his daughter was mentioned in the skit, all false.

ProudDUB · 21-08-2018 9:27am

bobbyss wrote: »

I don't understand the thing about Brian carthy. What's that about? What's he got to do with it?

When Micheal O'Muircheartaigh retired, RTE chose not to give his job (No 1 choice for radio commentator) to just one person, who was guaranteed to get all the big games. Instead, they rotated the role amongst a few commentators - Daragh Moloney, Ger Canning, Marty Morrissey etc. Brian Carty still did games, but not the big ones, like finals. BC was a close, personal friend of the Hartes & MH lobbied RTE to give him the job of Senior match day commentator, or whatever MO'M's old job title was.

The letter he wrote to RTE was made public. RTE's response was that firstly, MO'M's old job didn't exist anymore, so they couldn't give BC a position that had been abolished. Secondly, they made their own programming choices thank you very much and didn't take too kindly to GAA managers trying to tell them what to do. Cue all this bad feeling kicking off & some genius in the RTE "comedy" department coming up with the idea for the skit.

FrancieBrady · 21-08-2018 9:47am

Speakerboxx wrote: »

Did you not find what RTE did as inappropriate especially after what he went through?

I think Harte 'took' offence rather than anyone setting out to cause offence about his daughter.

I accept fully that somebody should have seen the connection between the song and the Harte's tragedy but people make gaffes and mistakes about such things everyday of the week and the world doesn't implode. RTE and the programme apologised immediately and the people of Tyrone and Harte should have been big enough to accept it.

Harte is an egotist and was one long before his daughter died, there are those right now in Tyrone living in fear of him or upsetting him. But there are also many many who want him gone.

Call me Al · 21-08-2018 9:49am

Speakerboxx wrote: »

He doesn't want anything to do with RTE

No.
He doesn't want Tyrone GAA to have anything to do with RTE. Its not just him, but it's all about him. He has made this decision for all of his county and his players, and he attempted to rope other counties into his personal feud with RTE.

And this bias and feud arose prior to the terrible murder of his beautiful daughter.
If he has an axe to grind with them so be it, but it's his axe, it shouldn't be the whole county's .

WanderlustIre · 21-08-2018 9:52am

Call me Al wrote: »

No.
He doesn't want Tyrone GAA to have anything to do with RTE. Its not just him, but it's all about him. He has made this decision for all of his county and his players, and he attempted to rope other counties into his personal feud with RTE.

And this bias arose prior to the terrible murder of his beautiful daughter.
If he has an axe to grind with them so be it, but it's his axe, it shouldn't be the whole county's .

Ridiculous that it is continuing but nobody will tell Micky differently. I think it takes away from the building up of it all.

Patrick2010 · 21-08-2018 9:52am

Boycott started before any sketch, see below.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/mickey-harte-brian-carthy-and-that-fourpage-letter-to-rte-26741449.html

Interesting that some of the managers on the letter Harte sent to RTE didn't know anything about it even though their names were on it.
Have to say he comes across as quite a bully and you'd have to say not the most truthful, just go back to his claims that Sky wanted the pitch narrowed , something they completely deny.

Billy Mays · 21-08-2018 10:00am

What made Harte think he should have had any say on who RTE uses to commentate on games?

FrancieBrady · 21-08-2018 10:04am

Billy Mays wrote: »

What made Harte think he should have had any say on who RTE uses to commentate on games?

In fairness, he is not the only one who tries to use their 'clout' to get their way with RTE.

https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/jim-gavin-in-standoff-with-rt-over-dvd-dispute-36601769.html

RTÉ have been refused interviews with Dublin manager Jim Gavin over consecutive Allianz League weekends as a new stand-off between the national broadcaster and the All-Ireland football champions opened up.

It's believed that the provision of DVD recordings of recent Dublin games for analysis purposes is at the heart of the current impasse.

It's understood that while most teams record their games for video analysis, some also look for footage from RTE because the national broadcaster generally has more camera angles - including behind the goal - at a game.

Tyrone Boycott of RTE Continuing Through Final

Comments