Réiteoir presenter Gráinne McElwain and Dr Noel Brick of Ulster University at Croke Park
In a new documentary, broadcaster Gráinne McElwain examines the realities of life for a GAA football referee in the modern game.
For many referees, physical and verbal abuse from teams, the stands and on social media is commonplace and some GAA county boards are struggling to find enough referees to officiate fixtures across a growing number of competitions.
Réiteoir!, produced by Macha Media for BBC Gaeilge and RTÉ with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, considers the emotional toll of this abuse and reveals findings from a recent Ulster University study on the treatment of referees, led by Dr Noel Brick, and the effect this has on mental health and welfare of match officials.
For David Gough, Siobhán Coyle and Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh, refereeing allows them to have an active role in the sport they love, and we follow their journey through the 2024 season.
David Gough, from County Meath, talks openly about his personal experiences as an intercounty referee, following what he describes as mistakes, made in the closing stages of two big All-Ireland Football Championship games.
David outlines the rigorous demands of referee training, the challenges of failing fitness tests and how he copes with the intense scrutiny that comes with being one of the GAA’s top officials. He reveals that while he has become used to verbal abuse on the pitch, receiving letters containing discriminatory language to his home had a much greater impact.
Watch on BBC2 NI on Sunday 2 March, 10:00pm - 10:30pm.