The Road to Croker
Encyclopedia
The Road to Croker is a magazine style sports television programme broadcast on RTÉ Two
during the Gaelic games
season. The programme features input from clubs, players and managers or Banisteoirí
. Retired Gaelic Athletic Association
figures, such as Michael "Babs" Keating
, have also made contributions. The "Croker" in the title refers to the stadium Croke Park
where the season draws to a close in September with the finals in Gaelic football
and hurling
. The programme has been nominated at the Irish Film and Television Awards
(IFTAs).
The Road to Croker is produced by Loose Horse. Episodes have been recorded in GAA clubs around Ireland, including Clarinbridge
GAA Club in County Galway
. That episode was recorded on the day before it was broadcast. Episodes were originally broadcast on RTÉ Two on Thursday evenings but the programme was moved to a new slot on Friday evenings for the 2009 season.
. Former Taoiseach
Bertie Ahern
presented one episode during August 2008 when Cahill was attending RTÉ Radio
's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing
. Cahill commented at the time: "With Bertie's proven love and knowledge of GAA, I've no doubt that I'm leaving the show in safe hands". Miriam Lord, writing in The Irish Times
after the episode, said Ahern "may have looked and sounded a bit wooden" but that he "didn't put a foot wrong". Two other episodes were presented by Brian Gleeson
at this time also. Patrick Kielty
took over as host when Cahill moved to present the television highlights package The Sunday Game
to replace his predecessor Pat Spillane
; Kielty used the show to speak about how GAA had influenced his early stand-up comedy
.
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
during the Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
season. The programme features input from clubs, players and managers or Banisteoirí
Manager (Gaelic games)
In Gaelic games, a manager or coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team. Managing, or coaching, entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such...
. Retired Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
figures, such as Michael "Babs" Keating
Michael Keating (hurler)
Michael 'Babs' Keating is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Ballybacon-Grange and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team in the 1960s and 1970s...
, have also made contributions. The "Croker" in the title refers to the stadium Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
where the season draws to a close in September with the finals in Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
. The programme has been nominated at the Irish Film and Television Awards
Irish Film and Television Awards
The Irish Film and Television Awards were first awarded in 2003. Its sole aim is to celebrate Ireland's notably talented film and television community...
(IFTAs).
The Road to Croker is produced by Loose Horse. Episodes have been recorded in GAA clubs around Ireland, including Clarinbridge
Clarinbridge
Clarinbridge is a small village, approximately 15 minutes drive south of Galway, Ireland in the Diocese of Kilmacduagh. It is on the mouth of the Clarin River at the end of Dunbulcaun Bay, which is the easternmost part of Galway Bay...
GAA Club in County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
. That episode was recorded on the day before it was broadcast. Episodes were originally broadcast on RTÉ Two on Thursday evenings but the programme was moved to a new slot on Friday evenings for the 2009 season.
Presenters
The Road to Croker was originally presented by Des CahillDes Cahill
Desmond 'Des' Cahill is an Irish sports presenter and commentator with national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. He presents a daily radio programme called Drivetime Sport on RTÉ Radio 1, while on television he has presented The Sunday Game, The Road to Croker, Play It Again, Des, and Up for...
. Former Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Bertie Ahern
Bertie Ahern
Patrick Bartholomew "Bertie" Ahern is a former Irish politician who served as Taoiseach of Ireland from 26 June 1997 to 7 May 2008....
presented one episode during August 2008 when Cahill was attending RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio
RTÉ Radio is a department of Irish national broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Radio broadcasts four analogue channels and five digital channels....
's coverage of the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. Cahill commented at the time: "With Bertie's proven love and knowledge of GAA, I've no doubt that I'm leaving the show in safe hands". Miriam Lord, writing in The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
after the episode, said Ahern "may have looked and sounded a bit wooden" but that he "didn't put a foot wrong". Two other episodes were presented by Brian Gleeson
Brian Gleeson
Brian Gleeson is a former Australian rules footballer in the VFL.Gleeson attended St Patrick's College, Ballarat and later played with St Kilda at Centre half-forward initially. He developed into a skilful and agile ruckman, winning the Brownlow medal in 1957...
at this time also. Patrick Kielty
Patrick Kielty
Patrick Kielty is an Irish comedian and television personality from Dundrum, Northern Ireland.-Background:He was affected by The Troubles in Northern Ireland. On 25 January 1988 his father, businessman Jack Kielty, was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Association /"Ulster Freedom Fighters" , a...
took over as host when Cahill moved to present the television highlights package The Sunday Game
The Sunday Game
The Sunday Game is Raidió Teilifís Éireann's main Gaelic games television programme. It is shown on RTÉ Two every Sunday during the Football Championship and Hurling Championship seasons. It is one of RTÉ Two’s longest-running shows, having been on air since 1979, one year after the channel first...
to replace his predecessor Pat Spillane
Pat Spillane
Patrick Gerard Spillane , better known as Pat Spillane, is a retired Gaelic footballer and well known Irish sports pundit. He played Gaelic football with his local club Templenoe and was a member of the Kerry senior inter-county team from 1975 until 1991...
; Kielty used the show to speak about how GAA had influenced his early stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
.