Controversy heats up as Cork say they will ‘abandon’ provincial showpiece if they have toSinn Féin TDs and senators wear shorts at Leinster House to show ‘solidarity’
Mr McConalogue was replying to comments from Fine Gael TD Joe Neville, who spoke of a recent 83pc survey that found players wanted an end to the requirement that they wear skorts while playing matches.
Mr Neville said there should be a derogation to rule 10.5 (c) so that players could wear shorts instead, saying that recently the rules had to be enforced by a referee “put in a very difficult position”.
Before the recent Leinster championship semi-final, the Dublin and Kilkenny teams were told the game would be abandoned unless they changed from shorts to skorts.
Mr Neville asked if the Government would support the players “in getting this rule changed”.
There was provision for this to happen “where strict adherence to the rule may not be in the best interest of the association,” he said.
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Mr McConalogue said he was “very much aware” of the issue, saying it was important that players engage now with the Camogie Association.
“It’s important they now come together to find a resolution to this which is comfortable for everyone,” Mr McConalogue said.
“Making sure everybody’s comfortable in terms of participating in sport is absolutely essential.
“I believe it’s important that there’s an agreed way forward which everybody can be comfortable with, and with players very much at the centre.”
Mr Neville said he had asked the question “because participation of women in sports is so important, and for these people to take the stance they did, I think they should ultimately be supported by the Government”.
Mr McConalogue said the country had seen massive progress made in relation to the equal participation by women in all sports.
The issue of wearing skorts has become problematic for the Camogie Association. Photo: Sportsfile
“Our national governing bodies have been making massive strides in that regard as well. Indeed, it’s been matched by the Government as well in relation to funding,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin and Independent Ireland have said camogie players should wear shorts at this weekend’s Munster final between Cork and Waterford.
The Cork senior team are expected to wear shorts this Saturday afternoon in the provincial showpiece in Tipperary.
Under Camogie Association rules, skorts must be worn to play games and shorts are not allowed.
However, recent research published by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) showed 70pc of inter-county players deem skorts uncomfortable, and 83pc wanted the right to choose between wearing skorts and shorts.
Sinn Féin senator Maria McCormack said she and her parliamentary colleagues wore shorts today in the Seanad to show support for camogie players.
“I’m wearing shorts today in solidarity with the camogie players around Ireland. Laois camogie players will be coming up today to Leinster House and I will be raising this in the Seanad,” she said.
Ms McCormack said the Camogie Association should take note of the GPA survey.
“We’re calling on the Irish camogie association to take this on board – 2027 or 2026 is too far away. We need to change the rules for them now,” she said.
She added that she would “100pc” encourage players to wear shorts this weekend as a form of protest.
“No camogie player around the country goes to training in a skort, they all wear shorts when they’re training, so why should they be forced to wear a skort?” she said.
Cork’s Ashling Thompson said her team are prepared to miss out on the Munster title over the skorts issue. Photo: Sportsfile
“It’s really down to the Camogie Association, it’s not down to the players. They’re asking for this since 1969, it’s going on a very, very long time.”
Independent Ireland TD Ken O’Flynn also said the players should wear shorts at the Munster final.
“We should be supporting them and we should be moving with the times. If the players dictate that this is more comfortable, this is what they feel better in, we should be accommodate that,” he said.
He said players should have the right to speak up and not feel “segregated or silenced”.
His party colleague Michael Collins said “camogie players need to be respected” and that the change the players are seeking is “very simplistic”.
Cork senior player Ashling Thompson said her team are prepared to forfeit the Munster final if players are not allowed to wear shorts during the match.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One, the six-time All-Ireland winner said players will refuse to wear skorts, even if it means abandoning the game.
She added that she hopes Waterford will follow suit, but that her team are prepared to give up the Munster title if needs be.
Sports Minister Charlie McConalogue. Photo: Brian Lawless
“I think what we’re going to do is wear shorts and if we’re asked to return to the dressing room, we won’t. If that means abandoning the game and handing over the Munster title to Waterford, that’s what we’ll do. We’re just hoping Waterford follow suit,” she said.
“It’s not about us versus the association. It’s about standing up for what’s right and creating something that will affect, in a good way, younger athletes down the line.
“Maybe this might be the push that that everybody needs to get over the line in this decision.”
She said players are “just asking to be heard” and to “have a choice in what we want to wear and how we represent our counties and our clubs”.
“It’s about respect, comfort and modernising a game that we all love,” she said.
Ms Thompson said players should be involved in the evolution of the sport, adding that they are “not trying to make this fight”, but to give players a choice.
She said she would not be happy if a vote on the issue was brought back before congress next year, adding: “We’re really not being heard if we have to wait, and it almost feels like a punishment if we have to wait until next year.”
Ms Thompson said it would “of course” be difficult for her side to have to forfeit the Munster final over the skorts issue, but players will take a stand “looking at the bigger picture”.
“I said recently you’ve probably only three chances of winning silverware throughout the season, and for some teams like it might be the only silverware they ever get in their career so of course, it’ll have a huge impact,” she said.
“But we’re looking at the bigger picture and what it means for the younger players and the younger generation coming through.”
She said camogie is at a “high point” and it is “really disappointing” for the game to be in “a negative light” over the issue of skorts.
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