Camogie Association president Brian Molloy will 'continue to engage' on skorts issue

admin admin | 04-25 00:16

Camogie Association president Brian Molloy has said that he will continue to engage with players on the issue of wearing skorts.

Molloy was ratified as the association's first male president at their annual congress earlier this month, on the same day that motions for players to change from wearing skorts to shorts failed to pass.

A skort is a pair of shorts with a fabric overlapping panel that resembles a skirt, and many players have spoken out on their preference for wearing shorts.

"There was a very open and robust debate," Molloy said. "Delegates representing players and parents of players discussed both sides.

"Some delegates representing those players are in favour of maintaining the status quo and some delegates are in favour of change.

"We counted up the votes at the end of a very respectful and open debate and 45% were in favour of making the change to offer choice and 55% were in favour of maintaining the status quo, and that was the democratic decision that was implemented.

"You'll always find when there's a split decision, and there's a significant minority on one side or the other, that people are disappointed that the approach that they looked for didn't get through but we have to respect the democratic decision.

"Ultimately, if the decision had been to make the change and it was suggested that the Camogie Association wasn't going to respect that democratic decision, I don't think people would be happy.

"I think it's important we went through a democratic process. We're a very engaged association, we're member-led and volunteer-led. I speak to players on a day-by-day basis and I will continue to engage on the matter.

"I don't rule anything in or out. Ultimately, it's the members that make the decision and we respect that decision."

Molloy will continue to engage with players on the issue of wearing skorts

During his team, Molloy will oversee the integration of the Camogie Association with the GAA and the LGFA, with 2027 pencilled in as a proposed date for full amalgamation of the three associations.

As the process goes on, Molloy urged clubs from all parties to start adopting an integrated mindset right away.

"Integration has been talked about in the Camogie Association for decades now, we can see massive benefits to it for all four codes," he said. "In a very short time period, we will have one new GAA with parity of esteem for hurling, camogie, ladies football and football.

"One thing that I think can happen now... we don't have to wait to start an integrated mindset and start making decisions across the three organisations with integration in mind.

"For example, will you make that pitch available to the other code? Would you do so if we were integrated? Would you charge for it if we were integrated? Would you finalise those fixtures without talking to the other codes if we were integrated?

"Those kinds of decisions can start to be made through that prism right away. I want to see more one-clubs. The model we're going to implement across integration is a one-club model where you have the different codes working side by side.

"You don't have to wait until 2026 or 2027. Clubs can reach out, start having those conversations and move to the one-club model straight away and add a camogie team.

"If you're an existing GAA, reach out and become a one-club and add a camogie team. Camogie clubs, reach out and add an LGFA team. That is how we'll expand our game and increase the number of players that we have.

"It's hugely important that every girl across this country gets the opportunity to play camogie. The government have a role and every national school in the country should be providing every girl with the opportunity to play camogie and ladies football."

On the issue of expenses for county players, Molloy said that these will start being paid in May, and outlined his goals for his three-year term at the helm.

"Integration completed and a significant increase in the number of camogie teams around the country," he said. "We have a lot of games coming thick and fast and we want to make sure that those games are being supported.

"We have the All-Ireland Championships starting soon, that will come to a crescendo on 11 August and I want people from every code to go to Croke Park and watch the three superb finals."

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