Two female RTÉ Sport presenters have claimed they have experienced sexist remarks similar to those that resulted in Andy Gray’s sacking from Sky Sports.
GAA reporter Evanne Ní Chuilinn and radio anchor Siobhán Madigan say that sexism is rife in Irish sports broadcasting – a world that is dominated by men.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mirror, Ní Chuilinn identified with Sky’s Charlotte Jackson, who was subjected to one of Gray’s sexist comments.
“If you look carefully at her reaction you can see she is deliberately ignoring what has been said, and I know that feeling and look so well,” the Kilkenny native said.
“I’ve been there myself, where the fellas are being fellas and they are messing around and making little jibes. [Jackson] was well aware and did what I’d do: brush it off and move on.”
Ní Chuilinn added that complaining about such behaviour does not have such a favourable outcome.
“You just have to laugh it off, because otherwise the focus is shifted to you in a new way when all you are trying to do is your job.”
Madigan was damning in her assessment of the manner in which some males in the profession carry on.
“I do a lot of work on boxing… there will always be one or two will have notions of themselves, and will offer their so-called opinion without a thought. And it is like something from the 1950s.”
