TV NEWS: Permission has been granted to provide live TV broadcasts of this weekend's Munster hurling championship semi-finals at Semple Stadium.
Concerns over fire safety after the recent redevelopment work in the stadium meant RTÉ cameras were unable to be accommodated for last Sunday's drawn game between Limerick and Waterford, and forced the late alteration to the afternoon's live broadcast.
Discussions took place yesterday afternoon between the Tipperary fire safety officers, the stadium's consultant engineers, and representatives of the stadium committee, and it was agreed the cameras would be allowed to operate from their original positions.
It means the two semi-finals will be broadcast live by RTÉ, starting on Saturday evening with the replay between Limerick and Waterford at 6.15, and Sunday's meeting of Clare and Cork at 4.15. The first live RTÉ broadcast on Sunday will be the Connacht football semi-final between Mayo and Sligo from Dr Hyde Park (2.30).
On Monday, one of the chief fire officers outlined the fire safety concerns, and how the construction of new press and radio facilities at the stadium had not received the proper safety certificate. A court order prevented the cameras from being set up without the proper certification. Requests from RTÉ to set up cameras on the other stand had also been turned down.
Yesterday the Munster Council secretary Donie Nealon said he was confident they of a resolution but added: "Last Sunday was a big disappointment in that hundreds of thousands of people weren't able to see the match. And there is no TV record of a great, great match, which is a pity."
