TG4 confirm 4-year sponsorship extension of Ladies Football Championships 

• New deal will last until end of 2022 season.
• 2020 will mark 20^th year of the agreement.
• 17 championship games to be screened this summer.
• Special TG4 All-Ireland final preview show from the Mansion House on September 15

TG4 have announced a four-year extension of their sponsorship of the Ladies Gaelic Football inter-county championships, with the new deal set to last until the conclusion of the 2022 season.

Speaking at the launch of the 2018 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football championships, TG4 Ardstiúrthóir Alan Esslemont expressed his delight at the new agreement which extends the TG4 sponsorship and broadcast rights agreements with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA).

TG4 became title sponsors of the Ladies Football championships in 2000 and 2020 will mark the 20th year of the agreement.

This is the second major sponsorship renewal for the LGFA in 2018, after National League sponsors Lidl committed to a further three years, taking the LGFA’s retail partners up to and including 2021.

TG4 have committed to screening 17 championship fixtures during the 2018 season, beginning on Saturday, July 14 and running until All-Ireland final day on Sunday, September 16, when the junior, intermediate and senior finals will be screened exclusively LIVE.

Over the course of eight weekends, TG4 will bring viewers the very best action from the revamped senior championship, which will be played on a round-robin basis before the eight quarter-finalists are determined.

TG4 and the LGFA have also announced that a very special All-Ireland final preview show will be broadcast LIVE from the Mansion House on the eve of the finals, Saturday, September 15.

This show will not just focus on the TG4 All-Ireland finals, however, and will serve as a wider celebration of women in sport, with this fast-paced and fully charged bilingual Entertainment special set to feature a heady mix of music, celebration and entertaining discussion with some very special guests.

There has never been a more exciting time in Ladies Gaelic Football than now.

The fastest-growing sport in the country, last September’s TG4 All-Ireland finals attracted a record 46,286 attendance to Croke Park, a figure that was a world record for a standalone female sporting event last year.

TG4 also confirmed record TV viewing figures of 563,000, standing as a testament to the day’s success.

TG4’s coverage attracts a significant TV audience in Ireland and globally on the TG4 Player www.tg4.tv.

Speaking on behalf of TG4, Ardstiúrthóir Alan Esslemont said: “TG4 welcomes this opportunity to reaffirm our pride in our long and unique association with this great Irish sport. This combines sponsorship of the Championship with the role of TV broadcast rights holder in a multi-platform offering for followers of this now global sport.

“This partnership between TG4 and the LGFA has been developed over many years. The comprehensive coverage TG4 gives the games at all levels shows the importance we place on this wonderful sport which is developing and growing in prominence year on year. It is another great example of our rich culture and heritage and we are very proud to be associated with it and the ever strengthening bond between the Irish language and Peil na mBan.

“This is Bliain na Gaeilge and TG4 is delighted that the LGFA is substantially increasing the profile of the Irish language throughout the association.  Through our very successful partnership with LGFA and Lidl, TG4 is extremely proud that we can help to give women’s football the prominence it deserves.  The #properfan campaign has contributed to a surge in interest in the games and the stunning success of last year’s LGFA Championship has brought a very welcome focus onto all women’s sports throughout Ireland.

Marie Hickey, President of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, commented: “We are delighted to confirm the extension of our long-running partnership with TG4.

“They have become synonymous with Ladies Gaelic Football since the year 2000 and have helped to take our sport to new and unprecedented levels.

“With such a large overseas population to cater for, and huge interest in our sport across the globe, TG4’s ability to provide coverage to people located outside of Ireland is hugely important to us.

“Women’s sport remains very much on the rise and on an upward curve, with increased coverage playing a big part in that.

“TG4 have embraced the concept of our revamped championships and will bring even more action to TV viewers this summer.

“Ladies Football continues to lead the way in Irish women’s sport and after we set a new attendance record in 2017, we’re aiming to go even higher again in September.

“We need the help of clubs and counties to achieve that and I’d appeal to all sports fans to get behind these fabulous players as they set out on a potential journey to Croke Park via the All-Ireland series.

“Anyone who was fortunate to be present at Croke Park last September for the TG4 All-Ireland finals took home memories to last a lifetime.

“Now it’s time for even more people to show that they’re a #properfan as we get ready for the start of a new season.

“TG4 continue to strive for innovation in their coverage, whether it’s preview, live or review, and we look forward to another stellar season of inter-county action.

“You can tune in to TG4’s linear coverage in Ireland and on the Player worldwide at www.tg4.tv”

The 2018 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football championships were officially launched at Croke Park today, with representatives from all 32 participating teams present at the venue which will host the 45^th finals on September 16.

Holders Dublin will play their first qualifier game against Cavan on July 21, before facing Mayo on July 28, in what will be a repeat of the 2017 All-Ireland final.

Elsewhere, Cork will harbour hopes of regaining the title they last won in 2016 after claiming the TG4 Munster senior title.

In the West, Galway made it back-to-back Connacht senior titles and Donegal were most impressive on their way to Ulster glory.

The counties will follow a new route to Croke Park as four qualifier groups contain three teams in each.

Each team will play two games each in their respective groups and, from there, eight quarter-finalists will emerge.

The TG4 intermediate and junior championships will be keenly contested once again and will produce some cracking fare.

Tyrone, beaten All-Ireland finalists last year, won another Ulster title recently and will start as one of the favourites to land the Mary Quinn Memorial Cup.

They’ll face stiff opposition from a number of counties, however, including no fewer than seven Leinster representatives.

Roscommon, who claimed an historic Connacht title last month, will also fancy their chances of making an impact.

The TG4 junior championship will feature seven counties and London, who were beaten semi-finalists after extra-time against eventual winners Fermanagh last year, are a strong outfit and looking to go a step or two better. Derry, who lost the 2017 final replay to Fermanagh, are reigning Ulster champions and won’t lack in motivation either. This is an extremely exciting grade and one worth keeping a close eye on.

Clare and Down have the privilege of getting the 2018 TG4 All-Ireland championships underway next Sunday, July 8, when they meet in a Group 3, round 1 clash in Kinnegad (2.0).

Deimhnithe ag TG4 go bhfuil síneadh 4 bliana le cur leis an urraíocht ar Chraobhchomórtais Pheil na mBan 

• Mairfidh an socrú nua go dtí deireadh shéasúr 2022.
• Socrú é seo a bheidh scór bliain in 2020.
• 17 gcluiche craobhchomórtais le taispeáint an samhradh seo.
• Seó speisialta roimh Chraobh na hÉireann TG4 le craoladh as Teach an Ardmhéara an 15 Meán Fómhair

Dé Máirt, an 3 Iúil, 2018

Tá síneadh ceithre bliana fógartha ag TG4 ar urraíocht an stáisiúin ar Chraobhchomórtais Idirchontae Pheil na mBan.  Mairfidh an socrú nua go dtí deireadh shéasúr 2022.

Ag seoladh Chraobhchomórtais Pheil na mBan TG4 dúirt Ardstiúrthóir TG4, Alan Esslemont, go raibh ríméad air faoin gcomhaontú nua faoina gcuirfear síneadh le hurraíocht TG4 do na craobhchomórtais a rachaidh an stáisiún i mbun comhaontú chearta craolta le Cumann Pheil na mBan (LGFA).

Sa bhliain 2000 a thosaigh TG4 ag déanamh urraíochta ar Chraobhchomórtais Pheil na mBan agus beidh an chomhpháirtíocht scór bliain sa bhliain 2020.

Seo é an dara babhta athnuachan déanta ar mhór-urraíocht an LGFA le gairid.  Tá geallta ag Lidl, páirtnéirí miondíola an LGFA, urraíocht a dhéanamh go ceann trí bliana eile ar an tSraith Náisiúnta go dtí 2021 agus an bhliain sin san áireamh.

Tá geallta ag TG4 17 gcluiche sraithe a chraoladh le linn shéasúr 2018, ag tosú Dé Sathairn an 14 Iúil amach go dtí lá Chraobh na hÉireann Dé Domhnaigh an 16 Meán Fómhair nuair a chraolfar craobh na sóisear, an chraobh idirmheánach agus craobh na sinsear BEO agus go heisiach ar TG4.

Taispeánfar ar TG4, le linn ocht ndeireadh seachtaine, an chuid is fearr den aicsean ón gcraobhchomórtas nuachóirithe, a imreofar ar bhonn ciorclach, sula socrófar na hocht bhfoireann a bhainfidh na cluichí ceathrú ceannais amach.

Tá seó speisialta roimh Chraobh na hÉireann a chraolfar beo as Teach an Ardmhéara fógartha ag TG4 agus an LGFA freisin an oíche roimh na gcluichí craoibhe Dé Sathairn an 15 Meán Fómhair.

Ní hamháin go ndíreofar le linn an tseó seo ar chluichí Chraobh na hÉireann TG4 ach is ceiliúradh a bheidh freisin ann ar mhná i gcúrsaí spóirt.  Seó speisialta, siamsaíochta, lán fuinnimh agus tapa a bheidh ann ina mbeidh meascán de cheol, de cheiliúradh agus de phlé siamsúil agus a mbeidh aíonna an-speisialta i láthair.

Ní raibh cúrsaí chomh bríomhar riamh i bPeil na mBan is atá anois.

Tá sí ar an spórt is tapa a bhfuil borradh ag teacht fúithi in Éirinn.  Mheall cluichí ceannais Chraobh na hÉireann TG4 46,286 go Páirc an Chrócaigh anuraidh, an líon is mó go dtí seo agus an líon is mó a tharraing imeacht spóirt ban as féin ar fud an domhain anuraidh.

Tá sé deimhnithe ag TG4 freisin gur fhéach 563,000 duine ar na cluichí ar an teilifís, teistiméireacht ar chomh maith is a d’éirigh leis an ócáid.

Tarraingíonn clúdach TG4 lucht féachana suntasach in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain ar Sheinnteoir TG4 www.tg4.tv.

Dúirt Alan Esslemont, Ardstiúrthóir TG4, thar ceann TG4: “Fáiltíonn TG4 roimh an deis seo an mórtas atá againn sa gceangal seo atá againn leis an spórt breá Éireannach seo a athdhearbhú. Faoin socrú seo déanfar urraíocht ar na Craobhchomórtais ar chearta craolta teilifíse ar an iliomad ardán do lucht leanúna an spóirt ar spórt domhanda anois í.

“Ní inniu ná inné a thosaigh an chomhpháirtíocht seo idir TG4 agus an LGFA. Léiríonn an clúdach cuimsitheach a dhéanann TG4 ar na cluichí ag gach leibhéal an tábhacht a leagaimid ar an spórt iontach seo atá ag forbairt agus a bhfuil borradh faoi bliain i ndiaidh bliana. Is sampla iontach eile é de chultúr saibhir agus oidhreacht na tíre agus tá mórtas orainn baint a bheith againn leis agus as an gceangal idir an Ghaeilge agus Peil na mBan atá ag dul ó neart go neart. 

“Seo í Bliain na Gaeilge agus tá ríméad ar TG4 go bhfuil an LGFA ag cur go mór le próifíl na Gaeilge ar fud an Chumainn.  Tá TG4 thar a bheith bródúil go bhfuilimid in ann an t-aitheantas is dual dó a thabhairt do Pheil na mBan leis an gcomhpháirtíocht seo leis an LGFA agus Lidl, comhpháirtíocht a bhfuil ag éirí thar cionn léi.   Chuir an feachtas #properfan leis an tsuim mhór a cuireadh sna cluichí agus leag Craobhchomórtas LGFA na bliana seo caite agus chomh maith agus a d’éirigh leis béim ar spórt do mhná ar fud na hÉireann.

Dúirt Marie Hickey, Uachtarán Chumann Pheil na mBan: “Táimid thar a bheith sásta a dheimhniú go bhfuil síneadh le cur leis an gcomhpháirtíocht fhada seo le TG4.

“Tá ceangal ag TG4 le Peil na mBan ón mbliain 2000 agus chuidigh siad linn an spórt a chur chun cinn go mór.

“Ó tharla daonra mór thar lear a gcaithfimid freastal orthu agus suim mhór a bheith sa spórt ar fud an domhain mhóir, tá an cumas atá i TG4 clúdach a chur ar fáil do dhaoine lasmuigh d’Éirinn thar a bheith tábhachtach dúinn.

“Tá spórt na mban fós ag teacht chun cinn agus is ag méadú atá sé agus tá baint mhór ag clúdach níos fearr leis sin. 

“Ghlac TG4 le fonn le coincheap na gCraobhchomórtas athchóirithe agus craolfar tuilleadh aicsin fós ar an teilifís an samhradh seo.

“Tá Peil na mBan ag treorú an bhealaigh do spórt do mhná in Éirinn agus i ndiaidh líon freastail nár facthas riamh cheana in 2017, tá súil againn déanamh níos fearr fós i Meán Fómhair.

“Teastaíonn cúnamh uainn ó chlubanna agus ó chontaetha chun sin a bhaint amach agus iarraim ar lucht leanta ar fad an spóirt tacú leis na himreoirí den chéad scoth seo agus iad ar a n-aistear, b’fhéidir, go Páirc an Chrócaigh via shraith Chraobh na hÉireann.  

“Thug duine ar bith a raibh sé d’ádh air a bheith i bPáirc an Chrócaigh i Meán Fómhair seo caite do Chraobh na hÉireann Pheil na mBan cuimhní leis a mhairfidh go brách.

“Anois an t-am ag níos mó daoine fós a léiriú gur  #properfan iad agus muid ag fáil faoi réir do shéasúr nua.

“Féachann TG4 a bheith nuálach sa gclúdach a dhéanann siad cibé an réamhfhéachaint, craoladh beo nó iarfhéachaint a bhíonn i gceist agus táimid ag súil le séasúr eile den chéad scoth d’aicsean idirchontae.

“Tá teacht ar chlúdach líneach TG4 in Éirinn agus ar fud an domhain ar an Seinnteoir ag www.tg4.tv”

Seoladh go hoifigiúil Craobhchomórtas Pheil na mBan 2018 i bPáirc an Chrócaigh inniu, áit a raibh ionadaithe ó na 32 foireann atá páirteach i láthair san ionad agus a reáchtálfar an 45ú Craobh an 16 Meán Fómhair.

Imreoidh na Curaidh reatha, Baile Átha Cliath, a gcéad chluiche cáilithe in aghaidh an Chabháin an 21 Iúil, sula dtabharfaidh siad aghaidh ar Mhaigh Eo an 28 Iúil.  Is iadsan an dá fhoireann chéanna a bhí i gCraobh na hÉireann in 2017.

In áiteanna eile, beidh súil ag Corcaigh an chraobh a bhuaigh siad go deireadh in 2016 a bhuachan arís i ndiaidh dóibh craobh sinsear na Mumhan TG4 a bhuachan le gairid.

In iarthar na tíre, tá Craobh Sinsear Chonnacht buaite dhá bhliain i ndiaidh a chéile ag Gaillimh agus bhí cuma mhaith ar Dhún na nGall nuair a bhain siad Craobh Uladh amach.

Beidh leagan amach nua ar na foirne le háit a bhaint amach i bPáirc an Chrócaigh i mbliana agus trí fhoireann i ngach ceann de na cheithre ghrúpa cáilithe.

Imreoidh gach foireann dhá chluiche ina ngrúpa féin agus as sin tiocfaidh ocht bhfoireann chun cinn sna cluichí ceathrú ceannais.

Beidh iomaíocht mhór sna Craobhchomórtais Idirmheánacha agus na Sóisear arís i mbliana agus aicsean go leor ann.

Bhuaigh Tír Eoghain, a buaileadh i gCraobh na hÉireann anuraidh, craobh Uladh le gairid agus tosóidh ar cheann de na foirne is mó a bhfuil barúil dóibh le Corn Cuimhneacháin Mary Quinn a thabhairt leo i mbliana.

Ach beidh comórtas géar acu ó roinnt contaetha – seacht bhfoireann as Laighean san áireamh.

Beidh súil ag Ros Comáin freisin, a bhuaigh Craobh Chonnacht an mhí seo caite, cruthú go maith.

Beidh seacht gcontae agus Londain agus i gCraobhchomórtas na Sóisear.   Buaileadh Londain sa chluiche leathcheannais anuraidh in aghaidh Fhear Manach, a bhuaigh an Chraobh ar fad sa deireadh. Beidh Londain láidir agus súil acu dul céim nó dhó chun cinn i mbliana. Is iad Doire, a chaill an Chraobh san athimirt in aghaidh Fhear Manach in 2017, curaidh reatha Uladh agus ní bheidh aon easpa díograis orthu. Is grád bríomhar an grád seo ar fiú súil ghéar a choinneáil air.

Beidh sé de phribhléid ag an gClár agus An Dún tús a chur le Craobhchomórtas na hÉireann TG4 Dé Domhnaigh seo chugainn an 8 Iúil nuair a thabharfaidh siad aghaidh ar a chéile i mbabhta a 1 de Ghrúpa 3 i gCionn Átha Gad (2.00).