Victory for deaf lobby on football final Anthem

RTÉ will broadcast a version of the National Anthem in Irish Sign Language ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland Football Final on its RTÉ News Now channel.

The move followed protests in the deaf community over the perceived inadequacy of the station’s coverage for the hard of hearing when Pope Francis visited Ireland last weekend.

This week, the Irish Deaf Society attacked RTÉ for failing to include Irish Sign Language in all of its broadcasts of the visit – despite representations made before the Pontiff touched down on Saturday.

The society said: ‘Whilst interpreters were visible in the background at all events, it was disappointing that they were not included on screen for deaf viewers at home watching the proceedings.

‘Had the interpreter been situated on stage translating into Irish Sign Language, it would have given deaf viewers at home full access to the proceedings.’

The society was also upset that RTÉ’s live broadcast of Amhrán na bhFiann at the AllIreland Hurling Final on August 19 did not have an on-screen sign language interpreter throughout.

RTÉ said last night that when covering the National Anthem, a central part of the build-up to a major event like the GAA AllIreland Final, RTÉ seeks to reflect the occasion in its totality by including ‘a range of images’, such as the stadium, supporters and dignitaries.

The station said that the decision to show the Irish Sign Language interpretation of the National Anthem in full on RTÉ News Now will ensure that deaf viewers ‘are accommodated’.

‘RTÉ will also promote this addition to its coverage across its services in advance of Sunday’s live broadcast.’

‘Will include sign language’