RTÉ Cuts Live Prague Pub Broadcast Amid ‘Up the RA’ Chants

RTÉ cut a live broadcast from a Prague pub after patrons chanted ‘Up the RA’. The programme had been scheduled as an hour-long edition of Inside Sport from The Irish Times pub in the Czech capital.

Broadcasters ended the live feed for the second half, citing persistent crowd noise. The first segment had continued on location before producers moved transmission to studio.

What happened during the broadcast

The show began live at 6pm on Wednesday with presenter Marie Crowe on site. RTÉ said the second half was completed from studio with Damien O’Meara.

That latter segment was not published online on Thursday. RTÉ told viewers it had received no complaints about the programme.

Match context and follow-up coverage

The on-site broadcast coincided with build-up to the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup semi-final play-off qualifier against the Czech Republic. RTÉ said it would continue coverage from Prague the following day.

Wider pattern and previous interruptions

The interruption follows other instances where live coverage was curtailed after the chant was heard. In 2024, a BBC News report was cut short during Team Ireland’s Olympic homecoming in Dublin.

Those earlier chants in Dublin appeared to come largely from children. This recent episode in Prague again saw the slogan disrupt live transmission.

Public and political debate

The slogan has been increasingly used by younger people born after the Troubles and the 1998 Good Friday Agreement. That trend has prompted political moves in the UK.

Last week, peers voted in favour of measures to criminalise public displays that show support for the IRA. The proposals include making chanting of the slogan a criminal offence.

Baroness Arlene Foster proposed lowering the legal threshold to halt what she called the harmful normalisation of terrorism. She framed the change as necessary to deter glorification.

Government ministers resisted the amendment in its current form. Lord Hanson of Flint said the existing encouragement offence, introduced after the 7/7 attacks, already serves as a preventive measure.

Existing law and legal thresholds

Current legislation, created after the 2005 London bombings, bans statements that describe terrorist acts as conduct to be emulated. The bill targets words aimed at inciting imitation.

Debate continues over where to set the line between free expression and criminal encouragement. Lawmakers and broadcasters face pressure to respond to repeated live disruptions.