Réiteoir: A documentary is a documentary about life behind the whistle

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.

Siobhán Coyle from County Donegal is a rising star in both the men’s and ladies’ games and balances this with her day job as a teacher and as manager of Fanad Gaels senior ladies’ team.

Siobhán says verbal abuse is directed at her in every game, and has in the past, felt resentment from some male players.

Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh from County Kerry is a 25-year-old referee and grandnephew of GAA legend Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and is aiming to transition to intercounty officiating while navigating the pressures of grassroots-level games.

He sees a difference between attitudes in how officials at club and underage levels are treated when compared to the intercounty games at Croke Park.

The documentary also features contributions from sports analyst Fearghal Mag Uiginn, GAA President Jarlath Burns and sports psychologist and former Galway county hurler Justin Campbell.

Justin calculates a referee has around 500 decisions to make in any game and these are under huge pressure. He is on call for all GAA intercounty referees to help them prepare for matches or to deal with the aftermath of difficult games, and explains the emotional and psychological toll abuse can have.

Gráinne also meets Jarlath Burns, President of the GAA, and Donal Smyth, National Match Officials Officer to find out about the organisation’s efforts to tackle these issues, through referee training and the adoption of new rules introduced in 2025.

Réiteoir! is on BBC Two Northern Ireland and BBC iPlayer on Sunday, March 2 at 10pm.