Republic of Ireland General Discussion Thread 2026

breezy1985 · 25-04-2026 01:06PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420750#Comment_124420750

How many is the right amount ?

ctrl-alt-delete · 25-04-2026 02:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420777#Comment_124420777

I think for me, having just read the article, the number is fine. Especially considering the roles involved and accounting for the various platforms upon which coverage was being carried out. The numbers at the end seem to back it up.

pjohnson · 25-04-2026 02:50PM

Yeah that doesn't seem unusual at all. Fairly reasonable tbh

DJIMI TRARORE · 25-04-2026 06:54PM

Finn Azaz take a bow son , absolutel rocket with 12 minutes left

MacDanger · 25-04-2026 10:48PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124421647#Comment_124421647

Cracking goal, pity they couldn't hold out

glenjamin · 26-04-2026 10:57AM

John Finn and Festy Ebsoele were both unused substitutes over the weekend. I'd imagine Ebsoele will be on the move again this summer as he's really struggling for minutes since coming back from injury and his whole season has been stop-start with game time. Finn not getting much game time either of late. Not great for him considering he's playing Ligue 2 football.

Joe Hodge got 76 minutes as Tondela lost again. Looking like relegation for him.

Aaron Ochoa started for Málaga as they lost and slipped out of the playoff spots. He's doing ok this season and might be in with an outside chance of making the squad for the Grenada game.

johnnyryan89 · 26-04-2026 11:26AM

Their league doesn't finish until the end of May. They used to let him join up with underage teams when they didn't have to but that's probably different now given Malaga are pushing for promotion to La Liga.

Pauliedragon · 26-04-2026 03:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124420777#Comment_124420777

They normally send the 2 commentators and Tony O Donoghue. Thats 3 people compared to 41 so you can understand people wondering why the need for such numbers for an organisation that needed a taxpayer bail out recently. Shay Given and Didi Hamann could have done the punditry from the studios like they normally do,

~Rebel~ · 26-04-2026 04:36PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423265#Comment_124423265

You're just talking about on-camera people here - even if you just have those 3, you need a bunch more people there to facilitate them and their technology. That 41 includes all production, tech, sound, camera, and editorial staff needed to actually put those on-camera people on air.

Then there was also radio staff - both on air, and production, for the various radio slots, and then some other social/media marketing staff too.

Given that the match had a 78% market share on tv in Ireland, the webstream hit an all time record high for the RTE player, and the radio coverage around it was up by 120% over normal listenership, it's hard to say it wasn't warranted.

It was the biggest Irish football event in a decade. Sometimes it's worth doing something right, instead of pissing about with penny pinching.

Pauliedragon · 26-04-2026 05:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423420#Comment_124423420

I don't care about about percentages. Our state broadcaster was so short of money the taxpayer had to bail them out to the tune of up to 700 million. Why couldn't Given and Hamann have done the pundtitry from Dublin? Another junket. I'm not going to de rail the thread but it was another complete waste of money by RTE again.

~Rebel~ · 26-04-2026 05:20PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423490#Comment_124423490

Those percentages equate to both genuine public interest (the entire purpose of the state broadcaster, and most important factor to consider, above and beyond being a profitable business), and also increased advertising revenue.

Whether or not money can/should be saved elsewhere in the organisation is a different matter, but THIS looks to have been quite a justified use of staff (most of them technical production staff), for the single most watched soccer event in a decade.

Pauliedragon · 26-04-2026 05:42PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423530#Comment_124423530

A million people watched the 6 nations match V England with no need for such a massive crew to go to London. About 1.3 million watched the Ireland playoff. RTE spent far more money on a match that had a 30% bigger viewing figures than a rugby match. The 6 nations will draw those figures every year but the soccer viewing numbers will only spike when we make a playoff. And I say this as a a soccer fan not a rugby fan. Over 40 people going to a one off match is poor spending of an organisation that has serious issues with how they operate their finances. This is the soccer thread so I don't want to derail it I'll leave it there.

~Rebel~ · 26-04-2026 05:55PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423579#Comment_124423579

Have you any figures on the numbers of people that went over to London for the six nations match (including all journos present for any RTE news coverage, and all production needs)? Of these 41 for the soccer match, only 12 were on air talent across all mediums and formats — everyone else is there in a technical production capacity.

Your earlier assertion that they could've only sent 3 is just untrue, and more than a bit disingenuous. If you have any presence there whatsoever, then you need all the line production/technical/camera/audio/editorial/DIT staff etc needed to facilitate international production. Like, the absolute bare minimum production/support staff you're getting away with for a skeleton crew is still at least 10 (for tv only, and not including any on-air talent).

Pauliedragon · 26-04-2026 07:02PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423605#Comment_124423605

You lost me when you said "on air talent" Talent isn't a word I would use to describe the RTE performance for that match. Your an clearly standing up for RTE which is fine. Lets's not let the thread go off to arguments about RTE. We have different opinions on things I'm going to leave it at that now.

~Rebel~ · 26-04-2026 08:15PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423754#Comment_124423754

I just believe in fair discussions that actually try to include all relevant information, and make like for like comparisons. I didn't have an opinion either way, until I read more about the specifics of where that money went, and added it to my own production knowledge (working in international film/tv production 15 years). The criticism to me has tended to read more as rage-baiting, rather than balanced discovery and judgement.

Elsewhere I guess more on topic (though I don't necessarily think this is all that off-topic, since it's directly about the funding of coverage of the national team), I see Heimer was at Lincoln's game yesterday to watch Moylan score a peach. We've a few options at 10, but I expect he'll be given a go over the summer. I wonder will it be one squad, or will we see some chopping and changing between games? 12 days between the trip to Spain, and the Dublin fixture, so wouldn't be surprised by a more experimental squad against Grenada to give some lads a look in, and then a more settled squad for Qatar and Canada.

pjohnson · 26-04-2026 08:41PM

The idea that 3 people woulda covered it is hilarious. Just use the selfie mode on their phone. Be grand like.

pjohnson · 26-04-2026 08:44PM

The idea that 3 people woulda covered it is hilarious. Just use the selfie mode on their phone.

Be grand like sure why use production - shure the phone does be having a camera and a mic thats all ya need boyo.

dr.kenneth noisewater · 26-04-2026 08:45PM

99th min winer by Omobamidele for Strasbourg today

johnnyryan89 · 26-04-2026 08:47PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423906#Comment_124423906

I assume two different squads. Some lads will be in the playoffs or their leagues will still be on. I would hope the Grenada squad is more experimental even down to the starting XI. Give some new faces or those who haven't played much training time to get a look at them.

It's a pity the training camp is May 15th and not the following week. Dutch League and Scottish league play their final games on the 17th. Would have been nice to see McNulty and Devaney called up.

pgj2015 · 02-05-2026 08:19AM

https://www.thesun.ie/sport/16894329/owen-elding-england-ireland-battle-wonderkid/

surprising to read this. he looks good but hasn't done an awful lot yet to have England watching him.

kowloonkev · 02-05-2026 10:19AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124423265#Comment_124423265

LOL and the FAI just send the starting XI and the manager. The subs wait in the departure lounge at Dublin airport in case they're needed.

Round tower · 02-05-2026 01:44PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124406684#Comment_124406684

Hope he does not end up like Mark Noble of West Ham, could have declared for Ireland but kept waiting for a English call, he ended up playing for neither at senior level

johnnyryan89 · 02-05-2026 01:54PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437476#Comment_124437476

Because Mark Noble had no interest whatsoever in pulling on the Irish shirt. I doubt he's sad about missing out on dozens of Ireland caps. If he came on for the last 60 seconds of an England game and never played again it would still have been a dream come through for him.

johnnyryan89 · 02-05-2026 01:59PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124436863#Comment_124436863

England are producing quality midfielders to beat the band but what they're not doing is producing strikers. So wouldn't surprise me if they're keeping tabs on Elding. Other lads his age aren't doing much at club level. One of them Dane Scarlett is his teammate at Hibs.

Was meant to get his citizenship last month but the ceremony was postponed until June because of the protests. So won't be eligible for us until after the summer.

thebaz · 02-05-2026 05:21PM

Delighted for Dara O'Shea, think he is captain of Ipswich, after the dissapointment of our playoff - great player

pgj2015 · 02-05-2026 06:37PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124437510#Comment_124437510

I know he was born in England but if he lived in Ireland since he was 6, id say he feels as Irish as someone who was born here. I dont think we should worry about him wearing the 3 lions shirt.

johnnyryan89 · 02-05-2026 10:19PM

It's a pity the camp wasn't on the following week. Same weekend that we play Grenada the Scottish, Dutch, and French league play their final games. Just for a few extra players to possibly be included so it's not just all players in the English lower leagues.

glenjamin · 03-05-2026 01:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124439110#Comment_124439110

The Grenada game would have been a great opportunity to see the likes of Garcia McNulty, Ochoa, Kone Doherty, and Omobamidele get a call up. Struggling to think what available players I'd like to see get a cap now.

ollaetta · 04-05-2026 03:36PM

Belatedly watching the Championship last day highlights and saw Tom Cannon scoring for Sheffield United. Have to say I'd forgotten about him entirely and it seems a long time since the will he/won't he declare for Ireland debate.

TheCitizen · 04-05-2026 04:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124443106#Comment_124443106

Idah scored twice. Ended up on 6 goals for the season at Swansea after a hamstring injury that kept him out for about 3 months. Hopefully he’ll be first pick at Swansea next season with Vipotnik linked with a move away. A good goal scorer is Idah doesn’t seem popular with a some Irish fans but the manager rates him and he’s an asset in the Ireland squad.

Republic of Ireland General Discussion Thread 2026

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