Altogether now 2027

[Mourne Red]

Yes but there are an awful lot of county secretaries (as an example), and in all three associations) who would have no interest in losing their role simply because someone else is getting it.

Not to mention the 3 President roles, 1 each organisation has - Doubt Jarlath was for getting rid of his role in the merger to an incoming camog or LGFA president.

[magpie seanie]

https://www.gaa.ie/downloads/viewer/integration-report-march-2026

The above is a report from March which I was personally unaware of until yesterday when I went looking. It contains a timeline and proposed structures.

[tiempo]

Derek Kent won't be strung along on GPA fantasy island thats for sure

[gallsman]

100% but that is replicated the whole way down all the associations. National, provincial, county and club. Even in "one club" clubs there are examples where there's a different chair for each body. That will have to change, but it's not as simple as "for every three roles, there's now one".

There will be instances up and down the country where honest, dedicated and competent people will lose their role simply because there's someone else from a different org who also matches that description. And that's ok, it has to happen. If nothing else, it could be looked at as an opportunity to get rid of some blowhards (again, in all three bodies) who'd otherwise be in situ until their six feet under!

Gaelic Games Europe is my "county" board and is affiliated to all three associations. There are "vice" roles everywhere. Committees are bloated beyond belief. There is a frequent disregard for transparency and bylaws etc. There are some people who have dedicated decades to the growth of the game in Europe who, I'm sorry to say, are a bit dinosaur-ish and might be better being moved aside but carry huge influence because of their track record and achievements.

That's one thing that the GAA in particular has had difficulty with for years, in particularly at club level. In order to thrive, new people have to be blooded to give them insight, understanding and experience in managing a club. One person being the Chair for 20 odd years might be a reflection of incredible service, dedication and humility but might not be what's best for the long term interests of the club, which is what should always be the priority. They have to make sure there is no room for the Frank Murphys of the world in the new body.

[gallsman]

https://www.gaa.ie/downloads/viewer/integration-report-march-2026

The above is a report from March which I was personally unaware of until yesterday when I went looking. It contains a timeline and proposed structures.

Aoife Lane was on SC and spoke very well on this yesterday. Communication has been a shambles.

[ranch]

Surely the immediate goal should be an amalgamation of the LGFA and Camogie associations?
This would help iron out the major issues that arise every year regarding fixture clashes, etc. The medium term goal once that's bedded in should then be working with the GAA for a unified master fixture calendar at national level, and within counties. Once the conditions are right and the structures are in place without being rushed through, then have the final amalgamation within the next 10-15 years.

When the split season was brought into GAA, I always thought the LGFA missed a trick by shortening their season as well. Within counties there's no doubt that men's club championships would be the priority at this time of year, but on a national level LGFA games would get a lot more attention than they do currently.

[johnnycool]

Yes but there are an awful lot of county secretaries (as an example), and in all three associations) who would have no interest in losing their role simply because someone else is getting it.

Not to mention the 3 President roles, 1 each organisation has - Doubt Jarlath was for getting rid of his role in the merger to an incoming camog or LGFA president.

Why should he or Derek Kent?


Two much smaller organisations who own little or no infrastructure, create little or no revenue (in comparison) are being subsumed into the GAA.

Equality comes with equity.

And I don't buy the shite being pumped out by Evanne Ní Chuilinn, who in fact is building on female stereotypes that that GAA would be on its arse if women stopped washing jerseys, making tea etc.
FFS, what era is she living in?

I coach U16 and Minor camogs, wash their jerseys and hang the feckin things on the line after every game.

I struggle to get FLO's to be there to help out, can count on one hand the number of female referees in Down Camogie, the number of teams that would have female coaches etc.

It cuts both ways.

[RadioGAAGAA]

The best solution here for the GAA is to just leave things exactly where they are.

Probably.

To tweak an adage, its probably better to have them outside the tent pissing in than inside the tent pissing all round it.

An amalgamation only benefits Camogie and LGFA.

Its not necessarily even a zero sum game.

I think the GAA would actually be harmed in the long run if this was pushed through.

I don't think its too far-fetched to envisage a scenario where more than a handful of volunteers throw up the head when asked to balance 4 sports competing for the same calendar and pitches with the door always open to accusations of sexism thrown in any time unreasonable expectations of 2 groups aren't met.

[Mourne Red]

Yes but there are an awful lot of county secretaries (as an example), and in all three associations) who would have no interest in losing their role simply because someone else is getting it.

Not to mention the 3 President roles, 1 each organisation has - Doubt Jarlath was for getting rid of his role in the merger to an incoming camog or LGFA president.

Why should he or Derek Kent?


Two much smaller organisations who own little or no infrastructure, create little or no revenue (in comparison) are being subsumed into the GAA.

Equality comes with equity.

And I don't buy the shite being pumped out by Evanne Ní Chuilinn, who in fact is building on female stereotypes that that GAA would be on its arse if women stopped washing jerseys, making tea etc.
FFS, what era is she living in?

I coach U16 and Minor camogs, wash their jerseys and hang the feckin things on the line after every game.

I struggle to get FLO's to be there to help out, can count on one hand the number of female referees in Down Camogie, the number of teams that would have female coaches etc.

It cuts both ways.

I just meant it was a non-starter from the off JC, Should have been an outsider in charge of the merger not left to the 3 Orgs to sort out.

As for Evanne, talking out her arse as you say. Few other commenters have gave off that they've had their trainings cancelled or moved because a men's match is on. Match > Trainings, always been the way we've had to go run the mournes some nights as ladies or u12/14 boys match is on not a sexism thing.

Only started coaching ladies football this year as the eldest started. The FLO was an unknown to me thankfully at least with us never had issue with cover but same women who've been FLO for years has been hard to get people convinced to become one.

[johnnycool]

Finance is the sticking point.

Someone shared this on tinternet@




Looks like the CA is dependent on grants from the GAA, Sport Ireland and other Irish Gov grants.

Big bad GAA not giving the girls anything.

[Baile Brigín 2]

Yes but there are an awful lot of county secretaries (as an example), and in all three associations) who would have no interest in losing their role simply because someone else is getting it.

Not to mention the 3 President roles, 1 each organisation has - Doubt Jarlath was for getting rid of his role in the merger to an incoming camog or LGFA president.

Why should he or Derek Kent?

Because it is an elected role. If someone in future from camogieland wins, they win.

If this attitude of 'ours' is common then the merger is doomed to failure

[Baile Brigín 2]

Finance is the sticking point.

Someone shared this on tinternet@




Looks like the CA is dependent on grants from the GAA, Sport Ireland and other Irish Gov grants.

Big bad GAA not giving the girls anything.

Jesus. That is horrendous. Half their income is grants? If that was a private company it would be taken out back and shot.

And their entire turnover is 2% of the GAA's?!? Less than a mid sized LoI club. I knew they were small, but yowzer.

[Captain Scarlet]

I may be late to all this but surely there were milestones in all this?!
Like how did Mary McAleese, Aoife Lane and the others not have any key points whereby things like this needs to be in place by this date?

Surely they must have known years ago that nothing was actually taking place? Like could they not have asked for updates during this time?

I read through some of the updates on GAA.ie and there doesn't seem to be anything concrete.

For what's it's worth things likes insurance, comms and marketing could easily have neem synched up already in terms of staffing.

I didn't hear the women making the tea for the men comment, but it's mostly men who coach and train women's teams and are often on club and county executives, but that rarely gets mentioned...

From Coaching and Coach Education in Gaelic Games: A Benchmark Report (2022) - GAA, Camogie and LGFA - 10,400 participants

The coaches that participated in this survey were predominantly male (79%), aged between 25 and 54 (85.7%), and experienced, with 89.8% having more than five years' coaching experience.

Coaches in Gaelic games reported being very active: 39.8% coach two or more Gaelic games codes. A significant majority of coaches engage in coaching on multiple days each week (78.3%).

[Wildweasel74]

Lavey. Slaughtneil, Glen etc seem to be fit to work round all their teams at all levels. If theres a will it can happen. No reason girls fball and camogie cant be on before NFL aund championship games on a regularly basis.

[thewobbler]

Lavey. Slaughtneil, Glen etc seem to be fit o work round all their teams at all levels. If theres a will it can happen. No reason girls fball and camogie cant be on before NFL aund championship games on a regularly basis.

Yep you're right, if there's one thing that both GAA pitches and spectators need in January and February it's double headers amongst the pissing rain and freezing damp.

"Where there's a will" might work. It might. Blind optimism and sheer impracticality though, those are the things that inevitably end up in communication and ownership problems that were all predictable, and culminate in women shouting about "misogyny" while men are left scratching their heads.