'Skorts vs shorts didn't start today' – camogie club co-founder recalls 1970s uniform threat
Kiltegan Camogie Club co-founder Mary Kelly recalls being threatened with expulsion for wearing shorts in the 1970s, saying the current skort controversy shows "nothing has changed" in the disconnect between players and administrators
Wicklow People
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The co-founder of a Wicklow camogie club that was threatened with expulsion for wearing shorts back in the 1970s has said that mindsets within the Camogie Association have not changed since, and that the 'skort' controversy typifies the long-standing disconnect between players and county and national representatives.
Amidst the player protests and calls to action that saw last weekend's Leinster Junior Championship final between Wicklow and Louth postponed, the raging skort dispute has brought back memories of games played in swelteringly hot wool pinafores that felt like 'wearing an Aran sweater' for Kiltegan Camogie Club founder Mary Kelly.
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Irish Examiner
29-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Letters to the Editor: Like skorts, skirts should be a choice
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One of the reasons for the UN is for the protection of vulnerable civilians in wars and famines. Mary Sullivan, College Rd, Cork US deportation and military flights I am an immigrant into Ireland, and I love this country, its people, the landscapes, cities, and even the weather. I have become a citizen, and I also love Ireland since we speak up about what is right, whether it be related to the island of Ireland or further afield. We have a long-standing commitment to neutrality, human rights, and international law, in part stemming from Ireland's historical challenges, famine, and colonisation. Myself and many other Irish citizens have huge concerns and object to the ongoing practice of allowing military flights to stop in Ireland (usually US military at Shannon), with focused objection to US military flights on their way to provide aid to Israel as they carry out genocide in Gaza. Myself and many others also object to allowing US deportation flights to land/refuel in Ireland. 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RTÉ News
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- RTÉ News
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The issue regarding dual players being forced to chose between camogie and ladies football teams is unlikely to be fully resolved before any potential integration, according to former Donegal football captain Nadine Doherty. The deadline for amalgamation of the GAA, Camogie Association and Ladies Gaelic Football Association had been pencilled in for 2027, though the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has voiced its concerns that there has been little concrete progress. The Steering Group on Integration, chaired by former president Mary McAleese, today insisted that "complex process" remains on track, with one of the issues that it is hoped can be tackled properly the demands on dual players. Cork dual players Libby Coppinger, Hannah Looney and Aoife Healy will have to choose between codes on Saturday, 21 June as both the Cork camogie and ladies football teams are in All-Ireland championship action that afternoon. It is an annual issue for a certain cohort of dual players, though that Saturday is the sole weekend when the two Cork teams are in All-Ireland group stage action on the same weekend. The Cork footballers take on Mayo in what is likely to be a knockout fixture for the second and final qualifying spot in Group 2 of the All-Ireland SFC, while the camogie team are at home to Clare in Round 4 of the All-Ireland series. Former Donegal footballer Doherty is sceptical that any meaningful change will occur before any integration. "I don't think it's viewed as important, by either the Camogie Association or the LGFA," she told listeners on RTÉ's Game On. "One of the reasons I think that is because of the view it only affects a few. "I don't think there is any appetite whatsoever to fix this in the short term. That's why I was so glad to read in the statement that there will be a centralised fixtures committee. "The LGFA and Camogie Association come out every year and say they have tried to avoid this (situation), that they sit down together, but due to pitch availability, television schedules… I'm not going to say excuses, they are valid reasons, but it's just been put on the long finger.
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Camogie president targets filling Croke Park for All-Ireland final
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