Sky deal caused president sleepless nights
February 21, 2015
Pictured at the announcement of Sky Sports on-screen line-up for its GAA coverage are (Seated L-R) Presenters Brian Carney and Rachel Wyse (Back L-R) Football analyst Peter Canavan, GAA Director General Páraic Duffy and Hurling analyst Jamesie O'Connor. ©INPHO
Liam O'Neill has described his role in the GAA's historic deal with Sky Sports as "the biggest decision I have ever made in my life".
Even now, 10 months after the deal with the pay-per-view broadcaster was signed, it continues to divide opinion. Speaking to the Irish Independent ahead of next weekend's Congress when his presidency draws to a close, O'Neill admits it caused him many sleepless nights, but insists that it was the "right" decision made for the "right" reasons.
"The biggest decision I have ever made in my life was to be part of the Sky decision, no doubt about that," the Trumera man said.
"You are part of a group doing it on behalf of, not just an organisation, almost for the entire country. It affected everyone.
"I was worried for a fortnight that maybe we hadn't done the right thing. I didn't sleep for that fortnight afterwards until we came out of the Dail (where the GAA appeared before the Oireachtas Joint-Committee on Transport and Communications to explain the deal).
"But at the end of that fortnight the criticism just stopped. Because people saw the picture. Going into the Dail was a huge part of that and we welcomed that opportunity.
"Anything you do in the GAA will get you criticism, that's just fact. It goes with the territory, no matter what you do. Sometimes you get more criticism for not doing things. I think people understand what we're about and that it actually worked. I know the minute I say that people will say it didn't and 'how dare he say it did'."
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