Altogether now 2027

[Baile Brigín 2]

This is all being driven by Government. If the organisations integrate the GAA will be eligible for capital grants.

As opposed to now when they aren't?

[Wildweasel74]

McAleese not buying the croke park line. No way them men were giving up even a % of power, or the gravy train half them are on.

[armaghniac]

If the LGFA and Camogie could merge in the first instance, it would show a good example.

[tiempo]

The GAA statement is cringe, but they led themselves up the garden path on this one

LGFA statement is very balanced and mature

The GPA have gone with the standard pissy nonsence drawing comparisons to Katie Taylor and the plain begorrah women of Oireland

Derek Kent has just introduced the GPA to what we'd call senior hurling, long may it continue

[seafoid]

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2026/09/08/mary-mcaleese-stands-down-as-chair-of-gaelic-integration-group/

Former president of Ireland Mary McAleese has launched a stinging criticism of the GAA's leadership after taking the decision to step down as chairperson of the Steering Group on Integration.
She charged the GAA's management committee with being "less than impressive" and "lacking in vision", adding that the decision to resign has left her "devastated".

McAleese had remained steadfast in her belief the integration of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association could be complete by the 2027 deadline, but scepticism around that time frame from some of the parties involved had caused friction.
[ 'Let's just slow down': plan to integrate Gaelic codes raises concernsOpens in new window ]
"I'm absolutely devastated," McAleese said on RTÉ Radio 1's Inside Sport programme on Tuesday evening, just hours after her resignation
The (GAA management committee) was quite frankly less than impressive, and very disappointing to me as a long-term GAA supporter to meet a body that was so lacking in vision for the future of the GAA.
"I hate to say this but I suspect that there are people who are not entirely happy about the idea of including women in decision-making at the top level of Gaelic sports."

She added that, in her opinion, there was a lack of leadership at the top level of the GAA.
"Yesterday, I was shocked to hear the current president of the GAA say that in fact he didn't really support the idea, having supported it up to now."
"I didn't see leadership at the GAA management committee ... I had to remind them that integration was passed by Congress of the GAA and that they came to me to be the independent chair of their idea.
"The leadership is not evident and the commitment to integration has evaporated.
"I'm broken-hearted for the parents of young girls."

[Rossfan]

I see young girls playing camogie and football on GAA pitches every week.
They couldn't give a fiddlers if they are a different organisation.

[grounded]

The LGFA seemed to be caught on the hop after Mary McAleese's resignation.


The LGFA notes Dr Mary McAleese's decision to step down as Independent Chairperson of the Steering Group on Integration. This comes somewhat unexpectedly, given what we understood to be constructive discussions at the latest meeting of the Steering Group on Monday evening regarding the integration process.

We thank Dr McAleese for her dedication and leadership in this role and wish her well for the future.

[Baile Brigín 2]

I see young girls playing camogie and football on GAA pitches every week.
They couldn't give a fiddlers if they are a different organisation.

That is club dependant though. Some fully integrate the women. Some charge them to use the club name and facilties. I understand only one camogie club owns it's own grounds.

They split for a reason and McAleeses  comments are ominous that nothing has changed

[StephenC]

I see young girls playing camogie and football on GAA pitches every week.
They couldn't give a fiddlers if they are a different organisation.

That is club dependant though. Some fully integrate the women. Some charge them to use the club name and facilties. I understand only one camogie club owns it's own grounds.

They split for a reason and McAleeses  comments are ominous that nothing has changed

Was there a split? I thought that the LGFA was set up as a seperate organisation, rather than it splitting off from the GAA

[tiempo]

McAleese wanted her name up in lights, the GAA put the GAA first and she's threw the head up, was she ever a member of the GAA, what makes her view more valid, if Mary McAleese told you to jump off the edge of a cliff would you do it?

The GAA fucked up indulging the GPA on this topic so far, they finally realised they were in the process of handing over control of their own destiny and took a step back

The GAA are overwhelmingly supportive of the LGFA and Camogie associations, would be interesting to know what % of people flapping their gums on social media are GAA members

Its time the GPA answered Derek Kent's question in fairness, where's the receipt for the Kenya trip lads?

[Rossfan]

I see young girls playing camogie and football on GAA pitches every week.
They couldn't give a fiddlers if they are a different organisation.

That is club dependant though. Some fully integrate the women. Some charge them to use the club name and facilties. I understand only one camogie club owns it's own grounds.

They split for a reason and McAleeses  comments are ominous that nothing has changed

Was there a split? I thought that the LGFA was set up as a seperate organisation, rather than it splitting off from the GAA

Camógaiocht also set up as its own organisation.

[RadioGAAGAA]

What advantages does bringing it under one roof bring?

What disadvantages does it bring?

Not sure the former outweigh the latter. Will it not just end up in extending the same tired old row of hurling vs football in dual counties on a larger scale, with the equality argument thrown into the mix (from social media probably)? At least with 3 separate groups, each can fight their corner. Not perfect, but probably better than one group with constant accusations of bias (regardless of whether perceived or real).


Only thing I'd think is definitely needed would be a rule in that GAA clubs cannot charge LGFA/camogie for use of facilities for each training/match (unless they already charge their own internal teams). That said, does likely need a mechanism to stop all costs of maintenance being burdened on the GAA club and no responsibility on the other users (LGFA/camogie).

[armaghniac]

Jarlath on the radio now. He said that he wanted a detailed plan to be put to a GAA congress (regular or special), and not just proceed on a general approval of the idea. He also said that the ladies associations were not bringing much funding to the party, so they could not expect equal expenditure immediately.

[RadioGAAGAA]

TBH that is fair enough.

Voting for something not at all defined is not an informed vote.

The UI thread is on a similar line on different topic - need to define what the end will look like before a choice can truly be made.

[tiempo]

David Cameron's lack of leadership opened the door to Brexit

While many don't like it (or claim not to like it), whats going on here is fully justified and a show of strength in the GAA leadership, in not being painted into a corner by a legitimate political heavyweight in McAleese and the GPA

The GPA has been quite explicit about what it wants integration to deliver institutionally. Its 2026–28 strategy makes Players Powering Integration one of its five central pillars. Then, at its May 2026 AGM, it passed a motion seeking formal, structured player representation on the key decision-making bodies of an integrated GAA: Central Council, provincial councils and county boards. It separately sought formal player consultation over competition and fixture decisions. It was a trojan horse takeover from a cabal of would-be future six-figure exec's.

Worth noting, the current GAA–GPA recognition agreement already gives the GPA 15% of gross Central Council commercial revenue through to 2029, but they're on the gravy train now and have a taste for it.

Tom Ryan's comments are revealing, he says the membership element of integration is essentially ready, but the unresolved issue is organisational structure, specifically composition of boards, delegated authorities and powers of Congress.

The GAA finally have realised that it wasn't being asked to approve integration of the games but a redistribution of power inside their own Association. As the man says, turkeys (GAA top brass) aren't going to vote for (a GPA) Christmas