A complete profile of the world’s biggest sports radio station in Ireland

talkSPORT is the world’s biggest sports radio station. In 2025, it expanded into Ireland. This launch changed the Irish sports media landscape. For the first time, Irish fans had access to a dedicated talkSPORT platform with local shows, local presenters, and exclusive Premier League rights.

This profile looks at the launch and growth of talkSPORT Ireland, its Premier League broadcast rights, its new GAA shows, and how it differs from other Irish stations.

The Launch of talkSPORT Ireland

talkSPORT Ireland launched in March 2025. The station is part of Onic, a media brand owned by News UK . Onic also owns FM104, Q102, Cork’s 96fm, C103, Live 95, and LMFM in Ireland .

The launch was announced with a clear message: talkSPORT Ireland would bring a fresh and dynamic approach to sports coverage in the country . The station promised to go beyond traditional sports coverage. It would offer exclusive behind-the-scenes insights and access to top Irish athletes .

The station is based in Dublin. It operates from state-of-the-art studios in the city . This gives it a central base for covering Irish sport.

At launch, talkSPORT Ireland was already drawing over 100,000 Irish listeners each month . This showed there was demand for a new sports radio option in Ireland.

Luke Delaney is the editor of talkSPORT Ireland. He said the station would build on the success of its Premier League audio rights and launch new shows for Irish fans .

Growth and Audience

talkSPORT Ireland has grown quickly since its launch.

The latest JNLR audience figures show that Onic’s national market share grew to 10.3%. National daily reach grew to 508,000. Onic now reaches 796,000 or 18.3% of the adult population on a weekly basis .

This growth is part of a wider trend. Radio in Ireland remains hugely popular. 90% of adults, or 3.937 million people aged 15 and over, tune in on a weekly basis .

Sean Barry, Managing Director of Onic, said the results confirm the strength of their core FM stations. He also said the launch of Onic services and talkSPORT Ireland content means more people than ever are enjoying Onic content across the island of Ireland .

The growth of talkSPORT Ireland shows that Irish sports fans want more choice. They want content that goes beyond match reports and previews. They want stories, personalities, and access.

Premier League Broadcast Rights

One of the biggest draws for talkSPORT Ireland is its Premier League broadcast rights.

talkSPORT has a long history with the Premier League. In October 2006, talkSPORT became the first national commercial radio broadcaster to win Premier League commentary rights. It won a package that allowed it to broadcast the second-choice Saturday afternoon games that kick off at 3pm .

Since then, talkSPORT has continued to win Premier League rights. In February 2010, it gained more Premier League football in the latest radio bidding wars. It won two packages from BBC Radio 5 Live. These covered the late kick-off every Saturday evening and the early Sunday games .

In May 2016, talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 were awarded the right to broadcast three Premier League UK live audio packages for three football seasons .

In April 2019, talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 won three of the four Saturday UK radio rights packages for the Premier League .

talkSPORT is also the global audio partner of the Premier League. This allows it to broadcast commentary of every Premier League match outside the United Kingdom and Ireland in several languages, including English, Spanish, and Mandarin .

For talkSPORT Ireland, the key point is this: the station holds exclusive Premier League broadcast rights every Saturday . This means Irish fans can listen to live Premier League commentary on talkSPORT Ireland. No other Irish station has this access.

The rights have been renewed for a further four years . This gives talkSPORT Ireland a stable foundation for its Premier League coverage.

New GAA Shows

talkSPORT Ireland has made a strong commitment to GAA coverage. This is important because GAA is the most popular sport in Ireland.

In early May 2025, the station launched two new GAA-themed shows .

Beyond: The 45′

Beyond: The 45′ is a Gaelic football show. It is hosted by Mayo legend Lee Keegan and former Tyrone star Owen ‘Mugsy’ Mulligan .

Lee Keegan is one of the most decorated footballers in Mayo history. He won multiple All-Stars and played in numerous All-Ireland finals. Owen Mulligan is a Tyrone legend. He won All-Ireland titles with Tyrone and is known for his sharp wit and strong opinions.

The show offers fans a fresh perspective on Gaelic football. It features never-before-heard stories from behind the scenes in the GAA world .

Beyond: The 65′

Beyond: The 65′ is a hurling-focused programme. It is hosted by Tipperary All-Star John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer and current Wexford sharpshooter Conor McDonald .

John ‘Bubbles’ O’Dwyer is a Tipperary hurling legend. He won All-Ireland titles and is known for his skill and personality. Conor McDonald is a current Wexford player. He brings a modern perspective to the show.

The show takes listeners behind the scenes to uncover what life is really like for elite senior inter-county hurlers. It covers everything from the adrenaline-fuelled big match days to the grind of pre-season training .

Episodes of Beyond: The 65′ are released every other Wednesday . The first episode featured Bubbles and Conor discussing pre-season. They shared stories of freezing nights on muddy pitches and gruelling boxing sessions in the gym. They also recalled their first on-pitch encounters with each other and what it felt like to pull on the county jersey for the very first time .

The show has also produced live specials. For the All-Ireland Hurling Final, the team broadcast live from JR Mahon’s pub. They were joined by former Galway captain David Burke and five-time Limerick All-Ireland winner Seamus Flanagan. The show previewed the final and took a trip down memory lane with the players .

Both shows feature talkSPORT Ireland’s Luke Delaney. He helps guide the conversation and brings out the best in the guests .

MNÁsplaining: A Show for Women’s Sport

talkSPORT Ireland also launched MNÁsplaining. This is an exclusive new show hosted by social media sensation Kayleigh Trappe .

Kayleigh Trappe has over half a million followers across her platforms. She brings sharp wit, infectious humour, and a passion for sport to the show .

MNÁsplaining spotlights Ireland’s most high-profile female athletes. It gives them a platform to share their untold stories in an entertaining and light-hearted format .

This show is part of a wider trend in sports media. Coverage of women’s sport is growing. talkSPORT Ireland is helping to lead this change in Ireland.

How talkSPORT Ireland Differs from Other Irish Stations

talkSPORT Ireland is not the same as other Irish sports radio stations. Here are the key differences.

Focus on Stories Beyond Game Day

talkSPORT Ireland says it wants to shake up the traditional review and preview format. The station offers a unique behind-the-scenes perspective. It gives fans access to the biggest names in Irish sport and reveals what really happens behind closed doors .

This is different from stations that focus mainly on live commentary and match analysis. talkSPORT Ireland wants to tell the stories behind the sport.

Multimedia Approach

Every episode of talkSPORT Ireland’s shows is available on podcast platforms and the new talkSPORT Ireland YouTube channel . This means fans can listen or watch at any time.

The station also produces engaging snippets and social media content. This keeps fans connected and entertained across multiple channels .

Sasha Hamrogue, Head of Digital with Onic, said: “talkSPORT Ireland is sports content but with a twist, as we focus on the stories beyond game day. We’re making talkSPORT Ireland a destination where fans can connect with their favourite talkSPORT Ireland shows and personalities across multiple channels, whether it’s through podcasts, video content, or social media” .

International Backing

talkSPORT Ireland is part of News UK. This gives it access to resources and expertise that smaller Irish stations may not have.

News UK also includes News Broadcasting, home of talkSPORT, talkSPORT2, Talk, Times Radio, and Virgin Radio in the UK. It also includes News Ireland, publisher of The Sunday Times, TheSundayTimes.ie, The Irish Sun, and TheSun.ie, as well as HarperCollins .

This international backing gives talkSPORT Ireland a strong foundation.

The Irish Sports Media Landscape

talkSPORT Ireland entered a crowded market. The Irish Times noted that those who want to listen to chat about sport in Ireland are already spoiled for choice .

There are several major players in Irish sports media:

• OTB (Off the Ball): Owned by Bauer Media. Bauer controls national radio stations Today FM and Newstalk .
• Indo Sport: Part of Mediahuis, which owns the Independent newspaper titles. Mediahuis poached star Off The Ball presenter Joe Molloy to spearhead Indo Sport .
• Second Captains: A long-running independent podcast with a loyal community of paying subscribers .
• The42.ie: A sub-brand of Journal Media, owners of the Daft property site .
• RTÉ: Has a suite of GAA, rugby, and soccer shows .

The Irish Times noted that it is not hard to see what makes sport talk shows attractive. It is cheap to produce. Stick two or three pundits around a microphone and press record. And there seems to be an inexhaustible appetite among fans .

But the low barrier to entry also means there is a lot of competition. From multinational conglomerates to scrappy upstarts, everyone wants a piece of the action .

The Irish Times suggested that people come to these shows not just to be informed about the latest match results but for humour, companionship, and perhaps a sense of community .

This is where talkSPORT Ireland hopes to stand out. By focusing on stories, personalities, and behind-the-scenes access, the station offers something different from pure match analysis.

How to Listen to talkSPORT Ireland

There are several ways to listen to talkSPORT Ireland.

Onic Player App: The Onic Player App blends award-winning FM content with new DAB offerings. It includes talkSPORT Ireland, Onic Original podcasts, and curated music streams .

Podcast Platforms: Every episode of talkSPORT Ireland’s shows is available on major podcast platforms . You can subscribe and listen at any time.

YouTube: The talkSPORT Ireland YouTube channel features video content. This includes full episodes and clips .

Website: You can find more information at talksport.com and onic.ie.

The Future of talkSPORT Ireland

talkSPORT Ireland has made a strong start. It has exclusive Premier League rights. It has popular GAA shows. It has a multimedia approach that reaches fans across multiple platforms.

The station’s editor, Luke Delaney, said: “We’re thrilled to announce the launch of talkSPORT Ireland and build on the success we have already had with our exclusive Premier League audio rights every Saturday, which we have recently renewed for a further four years. We have an exciting couple of weeks ahead with the release of our brand new shows, featuring some of Ireland’s biggest sporting names” .

The Irish Times noted that the market is becoming more competitive. With Mediahuis’s expansion and talkSPORT’s arrival, it seems inevitable that there will be casualties .

But for now, Irish sports fans have more choice than ever. talkSPORT Ireland offers a new option. It combines international resources with local knowledge. It covers Premier League football, GAA, and women’s sport. And it tells the stories behind the games.

Summary: Key Facts About talkSPORT Ireland

Feature	Details
Launch Date	March 2025
Owner	Onic (part of News UK)
Studios	Dublin
Monthly Listeners	Over 100,000
Premier League Rights	Exclusive Saturday broadcast rights
GAA Shows	Beyond: The 45′ (football), Beyond: The 65′ (hurling)
Women’s Sport Show	MNÁsplaining
Platforms	Onic Player App, podcast platforms, YouTube

Final Words

talkSPORT Ireland is a new player in the Irish sports media market. It brings the resources of the world’s biggest sports radio station to Irish fans.

The station offers exclusive Premier League coverage. It has popular GAA shows hosted by legends of the game. It has a show dedicated to women’s sport. And it tells the stories behind the sport, not just the results.

For Irish sports fans, this means more choice. Whether you follow Premier League football, Gaelic games, or women’s sport, talkSPORT Ireland has something for you.

The station is available on the Onic Player App, podcast platforms, and YouTube. You can listen or watch at any time.

talkSPORT Ireland is part of a changing media landscape in Ireland. It shows that sports fans want more than just match reports. They want stories, personalities, and access. And talkSPORT Ireland is delivering.