In a revelation that's sent shockwaves through Irish households, a new study has named Waterford as the country’s leading hotspot for illegal sports streaming, putting the city at the center of a growing piracy crisis. The research, compiled by The Winners Enclosure and published on November 30, 2025, paints a vivid picture of the black market for live sports in Ireland, exposing both the scale of the problem and the mounting risks facing ordinary viewers.
According to data analyzed by The Winners Enclosure, Waterford residents logged an eye-popping 97.17 searches per 10,000 people each month for illegal streaming methods—making it Ireland’s undisputed capital of so-called 'dodgy box' use. The study’s methodology centered on Google search volume per capita, examining terms like 'Football stream,' 'IPTV sport,' 'Free F1 stream,' and 'Horse racing stream free.' It’s clear, then, that the appetite for free access to premium sporting events is not just a niche pursuit but a widespread phenomenon.
Trailing closely behind Waterford were Limerick (95.69 searches per 10,000), Dublin (90.26), Drogheda (87.89), and Navan (85.58). While Dublin ranked third by searches per capita, its much larger population meant that it led the nation in total illegal streaming interest, with a staggering 5,350 searches every month. The all-Ireland top ten also included Lisburn, Galway, Dundalk, Cork, and Belfast, each city reflecting a significant undercurrent of demand for unauthorized sports content.
The surge in illegal streaming is not going unnoticed. Major rights holders, Irish authorities, and anti-piracy organizations have all ramped up efforts to stem the tide. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT), which collaborates with broadcasters and law enforcement across Ireland and the UK, has already served legal notices to retailers in nine counties. But the campaign’s focus is shifting: while distributors and suppliers remain targets, the net is tightening around end-users—the estimated 400,000 Irish households believed to use illegal streaming devices.
The legal risks for viewers are daunting. Under Ireland’s Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000, anyone caught bypassing official broadcasters faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to €127,000. The law specifically protects content owners’ broadcasting rights and criminalizes the circumvention of technological measures—exactly what ‘dodgy boxes’ and ‘jailbroken fire sticks’ are designed to do. As The Irish Mirror reported, “Viewers have been warned that anybody caught bypassing official broadcasters to watch everything from Premier League soccer to Formula 1 could face up to five years in prison or a colossal €127,000 fine.”
This robust legal approach was underscored earlier this year in a landmark Irish High Court case. David Dunbar, described by Sky UK Limited as a "top-level" copyright infringer, agreed to pay Sky €480,000 in damages and at least €100,000 in costs. Dunbar, who allegedly earned up to €450,000 annually by providing thousands of people with unauthorized access to content since 2018, consented to judgment after opting not to defend the civil case. The case, heard at the High Court in Dublin at the end of July, set a precedent and sent a clear message: the financial risks of piracy can be devastating.
“Our study reveals the shocking number of people who look to find streams for sport illegally. It's important to remember that if you are ever caught watching sport on a laptop, phone, or with a jailbroken fire stick, you are liable to be prosecuted,” warned Alex Beecham, Managing Director of The Winners Enclosure, according to Dublin Live. He didn’t mince words about the risks beyond the legal realm, either: “Watching streams leaves you open to security and virus issues on your devices.”
Irish authorities are not alone in their crackdown. Rights holders are looking to replicate enforcement tactics seen elsewhere in Europe, notably Italy. There, following the seizure of subscriber data from illegal sellers, thousands of end-users were issued administrative fines that could reach as high as €5,000. The possibility of Irish authorities adopting this approach—directly fining consumers—marks a major shift, bringing the threat of financial penalties much closer to home for everyday users.
What’s fueling this surge in illicit viewing? The answer, in part, is economic. The rising costs of legitimate sports packages have driven many fans to seek out cheaper alternatives. Illegal Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services often charge as little as €50 a year for access to hundreds of premium channels, a fraction of the cost of official subscriptions. This affordability, combined with the promise of unlimited access, has made dodgy boxes an attractive—if risky—proposition.
The study’s breakdown of search terms and city-specific trends offers further insight into Ireland’s piracy landscape. Football, unsurprisingly, is the most popular sport among illegal streamers, followed by horse racing, Formula 1, and boxing. In Waterford, the most frequently searched terms included 'Football stream,' 'IPTV sport,' and 'Free F1 stream.' Meanwhile, Drogheda residents stood out for their high likelihood of illegally streaming horse racing.
Perhaps most striking is how Ireland’s piracy rates compare internationally. Residents of Limerick, Dublin, and Drogheda all search for illegal streams at a higher rate than almost any city in the UK, with only Norwich in England surpassing Waterford’s per-capita volume. This places Ireland firmly in the crosshairs of both domestic and international anti-piracy organizations.
Despite the warnings and legal actions, the illegal streaming market shows no signs of slowing down. The Winners Enclosure’s data highlights a persistent demand, and with technology making unauthorized access ever easier, authorities face a steep challenge. Still, the current wave of enforcement, combined with high-profile cases like Dunbar’s, may give pause to would-be pirates.
For now, the message from rights holders, broadcasters, and law enforcement is clear: the era of turning a blind eye to dodgy boxes is over. With the financial, legal, and even cybersecurity risks mounting, Irish viewers are being forced to weigh the true cost of their Saturday afternoon kick-off or Grand Prix stream.
As Ireland grapples with the realities of digital piracy, the stakes for consumers have never been higher. The next chapter in the battle over illegal sports streaming will likely determine whether the country can turn the tide—or whether dodgy boxes will remain a fixture in Irish living rooms.
