Croke Park honours first radio broadcast centenary

Jarlath Burns, the GAA President, has unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark the centenary of the first ever radio broadcast from Croke Park. This historic moment occurred during the 1926 All-Ireland hurling semi-final between Kilkenny and Galway, establishing a lasting bond between the national games and the fledgling 2RN station. The pioneering coverage, transmitted from thirty miles away, signified the dawn of live field sport broadcasting in Europe.

The groundbreaking commentary was delivered by Patrick D. Mehigan, a Cork-born journalist and former hurler who would go on to provide one hundred commentaries. Mehigan’s vivid recollections describe the primitive equipment, including a leather contraption and a brass tube, used to transmit the match. His work, alongside colleagues like Paddy Downey and Sean Moran, helped shape the landscape of Gaelic games journalism for decades.

The legacy of that first broadcast continues through iconic voices such as Micheál O’Hehir and Micheal Ó Muircheartaigh. Today, the tradition is carried forward by commentators like Padraig Lodge and Cathal Mullaney, ensuring the vibrant storytelling of the GAA remains relevant in the modern streaming era. This centenary serves as a nostalgic reminder of the humble beginnings that defined Irish sporting culture.