SDLP MLA wears skort to gym to show solidarity with camogie players in debate on wearing shorts
Current camogie rules state that players must wear a skirt, skort (a pair of shorts with an overlapping fabric panel which resembles a skirt) or a divided skirt.
However, women's gaelic football players are allowed to wear shorts.
Ms Hunter decided to wear a skort to the gym to show how difficult it is to exercise while wearing one, and shared a video of her experience to TikTok.
'I think it's a really simple way of highlighting how ineffective they are. Shorts are far more comfortable, more practical and easier to wear and work out in,' she said.
'I thought I'd try it myself and I could see in real time just how restrictive it is.'
Ms Hunter has backed the protesting players, saying: 'Women should have the choice to wear what makes them feel most comfortable, particularly when competing in sports.
'We want to see more women and girls celebrated in sport, allowing this decision is a part of that.
'They've been very vocal that they want change and our players should be supported.'
The debate came to a head last Wednesday, when Cork camogie player Ashling Thompson said her team would wear shorts in Saturday's Munster senior camogie final – and if they were asked to change to skorts they would refuse to do so, even if it risked the game being abandoned or forfeiting the Munster title to Waterford.
On Friday evening, Munster Camogie's Christine Ryan said the final would be deferred.
Ms Hunter was disappointed with the decision to postpone the match.
'It's regrettable the game has had to be postponed because of something that should have been addressed long ago, but nobody should be forced to wear skorts and we hope this is addressed at the special congress and the game will go ahead with players allowed to wear what they choose,' she said.
A crucial vote will take place on May 22 to decide if the rules around shorts in camogie will be changed. A two thirds majority will be required by delegates to pass the new motion.
The rule amendment reads: 'Uniformly dressed means players can chose to wear skirt/skort/divided skirt/shorts on an individual basis, with no requirement to wear the same item as other players in the team, as long as they are the same colour and similar design.'
If the motion is passed by delegates, the new rule will take effect from Saturday, May 24 – the day the senior and premier junior championships begin, with the intermediate championships starting the following week.
Ms Hunter encouraged camogie players to continue fighting for choice to wear what they feel comfortable in.
'My message to them is, we in the SDLP support you, we're listening. This is about equality, it's about choice and enabling our young women and girls to feel comfortable, confident and have choice on the pitch.'
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