Dara O'Briain Wants GAA To Change Annoying Hawk-Eye Irish Language Error

While there seems to be a consistent debate surrounding the GAA and their insistence on adapting the rules of Gaelic games, it's fair to say that the introduction of Hawk-Eye to the sport has been universally accepted as a success.

The technology was first brought to the GAA in 2013, being made available for games at Croke Park. That would later be extended to include Semple Stadium in 2016.

The use of Hawk-Eye has certainly dampened down debates surrounding close calls on points in the biggest fixtures in the GAA, even if the technology has experienced a couple of hiccups down through the years.

Despite this, it remains a popular addition to the game.

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The whole process surrounding Hawk-Eye decisions certainly adds to the drama at big GAA games, although some are questioning one aspect of the graphics that are used at Croke Park and Semple Stadium.

The decision on each score is now famous for coming to either a 'tà' or 'níl', using the Irish language to declare whether a potential score is valid.

However, a question has been raised as to whether that is the correct terminology.

Irish comedian and GAA enthusiast Dara Ó Briain has taken to social media to share his belief that the GAA have been using the wrong wording in the Hawk-Eye graphics since it was first introduced in 2013.

The Hill I would Die On: it should be “Sea/Ní Shea” on Hawkeye in Croke Park, not “Tá/Níl”. pic.twitter.com/FFNmdN6FOG

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) July 20, 2025

Now this is an interesting one.

The Wicklow native suggests that GAA should use 'sea/ní shea' on the graphics, which would be a more direct translation of 'yes/no'. The current phrasing of 'tà/níl' would be more closely translates as 'it is/it isn't'.

It is not something that many people would have given much thought to, although the argument does make a lot of sense.

Ó Briain would go to bat for his opinion in the comments when it was questioned by others.

Sea/Ní Shea is the actual answer to that. “Is it a point? Tá.” is dreadful.

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) July 20, 2025

He has a point.

The former Mock The Week host would go on to suggest that a compromise could be reached by using 'cuilín' and 'ar foraíol', which can be translated as 'point' and 'wide' respectively.

After a VERY passionate debate on this, I am now doubling down and demanding it be “Cuilín” or “Ar Foraíol”; both of which terms I love and should be in common usage. I feel this is the compromise solution we can all get behind and that’s the end of the matter. https://t.co/BXHJPgQY8x

— Dara Ó Briain (@daraobriain) July 21, 2025

This is of course a completely meaningless argument, but we have to admit that we have been completely hooked by it.

The GAA's silence on the matter is deafening.