Politicians urge camogie players to wear shorts in Munster final amid Skortgate
Camogie players taking part in this weekend's Munster Final have been urged to wear shorts despite rules demanding they wear skorts.
The Dublin vs Kilkenny match was nearly called off last weekend after players initially refused to wear skorts, which are a skirt/short combination.
Camogie Association rules dictate that players cannot wear shorts, despite years of campaigning for choice about what female players wear.
Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack wore shorts in Leinster House on Wednesday 'in solidarity with the camogie players around Ireland'.
She said: 'We have noticed a lot of kickback from the players. 83 per cent of the players said in a survey they were uncomfortable and unhappy wearing the skort. But yet they are still being forced to wear the skort.
'We're calling on the Irish Camogie Association to take this on board. 2027, 2026, is too far away. We need to change the rules for them now so they have the choice.
'As TDs and Senators, we have a choice. But everyone should have a choice.'
When asked if she would encourage Cork and Waterford players playing in this weekend's Munster senior camogie final to wear shorts, even if the match faces being called off, Ms McCormack said: '100 per cent.'
She continued: 'It's really down to the Camogie Association [if the match is called off]. This does not fall on the players.
'They're asking for this since 1969 and this is going on a very, very long time.
'At this stage they have no choice. So it's not fair in every other sport that we have females participating in, they're not forced to wear a skort.'
Sinead Gibney of the Social Democrats branded it 'really shocking and sad that we are talking about shorts on women' and that rules needed to be changed.
Ken O'Flynn of Independent Ireland also said he would "absolutely" encourage players to wear shorts.
He said: 'The most important thing here is the sport.'
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