Gaelic Games integration was in the Oireachtas spotlight yesterday, even as the former player and now former Joint Committee member was being elevated to a Junior Minister role.

Imelda Munster of Sinn Féin, long one of the most clinical inquisitors on this committee was absent as well and there was a gentler more positive tone than has generally been the case when sport has come onto the radar in the Committee Rooms.

The three Presidents of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association – Jarlath Burns, Micheál Naughton and Brian Molloy were joined by the Chair of the Integration Committee former President Mary McAleese for the first session and successive TDs and Senators came back to the question of what could be done by Government to assist.

A well-prepared Burns was quick to advocate for the return of the International Investment Programme upon which several major developments around the country were based but are now paused.

Getting due diligence right on those funding the scheme was recognised as important but it was said that Ireland was the only European country not to have a similar scheme in place and that it would be an ‘easy win’ to open up funding that could assist in upgrading and developing new facilities that are fit for purpose, and fit for both male and female players.

That is central to new streams of funding which will now be dependent on giving equal access regardless of gender.

Questions over Women’s teams being charged to use facilities were raised but this would not be part of the new integrated GAA and was already more of a rarity with 900 clubs currently working already under the One Club model.

Two young players Cormac Spain and Aisling Nig Rúairc from Cuala in South Dublin joined the second session alongside representatives of GAA Handball, Rounders, Scór and the Gaelic Players Association.

They spoke of the fact that their club was equal in terms of facilities, management and ethos but that challenges remained in terms of fixtures. Aisling went on to play a Women’s Football match last night having played a Senior Camogie game the night before in Dublin Leagues while Cormac and the men play football and hurling on a week-on, week-off basis.

Mary McAleese said that there was no switch to flick or magic wand and that the integration, which she said would happen by 2027 could only be achieved through hard work and lots of it.

The newly elected Camogie Association President Brian Molloy pointed to this Sunday’s shared use of Croke Park for the Very Camogie League Finals and the Dublin vs. Meath Leinster Senior Football Quarter Final as an example of how that work is already underway.

He also stresses that this would not be a subsuming of the Women’s codes under the existing GAA but that while the name would change, the structures would be completely reshaped so that it was a partnership of equals.

Senators Micheál Carrigy, Shane Cassells and Malcolm Byrne brought their own experience of club and county GAA to bear on questions in both sessions

The conversation returned to facilities and credit was paid to the FAI’s analysis of needs and detailed plan for structural investment, with a similar root and branch review and ‘ask’ imminent from Gaelic Games as well.

 

Sport for Business Perspective:

The overall mood was positive and while the willingness of elected representatives to pledge support is unquestioned, the pledging of money to make sure it all delivers an optimum experience for male and female players will also be needed.

Yesterday’s broad feeling was that if we ask, that we will receive, at least in some fashion, and perhaps from a revival of the International Investment Programme.

On a broader note, we need, as a society, to be mindful of appearance.  There is a sense that when change is discussed those involved should always be part of the discussion.  Nothing about us without us is a broad general rule. While great advances in equality of leadership have been achieved and 40% is now the norm in balance, all three Presidents of the Associations are men, by election and without any question on their intent in this area, but also from the political side Committee Chair Niamh Smyth was the only female voice.

 

The GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association as well as the Gaelic Players Association are full members of the Sport for Business community.

 

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