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The Irish Sun
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Cork ace Ashling Thompson makes worrying prediction ahead of Camogie Association's Special Congress on skorts saga
CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION bosses hope their concerns over the playing of this year's All-Ireland Championships are put to bed this evening as the skorts saga comes to a head at Croke Park. Following a spate of protests from inter-county teams over the required playing gear, a Special Congress has been convened in an attempt to resolve the issue. Approximately 150 delegates are set to be in attendance to vote on a motion which would allow each player to make their own decision over whether to wear a skort or shorts in competitive fixtures. A two-thirds majority is needed for it to pass. After similar motions were defeated last year, delegates are sure to be reminded that freedom of choice — and not the abolition of the skort — is the matter at hand. At Congress in April 2024, a motion proposing that players be permitted to choose between skorts and shorts only received 45 per cent support. Read More On GAA Just 36 per cent of delegates backed a separate motion for shorts to replace skorts. This was despite Gaelic Players Association research which revealed 70 per cent of inter-county players deem skorts uncomfortable, while 83 per cent would like the right to choose between wearing skorts and shorts. Conscious of the potentially catastrophic consequences of the motion not being given the green light this evening, Camogie Association chiefs have lobbied county boards and provincial councils to vote for change. But Cork star Ashling Thompson has admitted that she is not confident it will pass. Most read in GAA Hurling Speaking on the Square Ball podcast, she said: 'That fear is based on the fact that these are delegates that are voting. 'These numbers were given and you had delegates that represented the players . . . we were voted against by our delegates.' Limerick GAA fans troll RTE pundit Donal Og Cusack after win over Cork Thompson was due to play for Cork in the Munster final against Waterford earlier this month. But it was postponed on less than 24 hours' notice after both teams made it clear that they were only prepared to play in shorts. The motion will come into effect for the start of the All-Ireland Championships on Saturday if passed. A statement on the outcome of the vote is expected to be issued some time after 8pm. 1 Ashling Thompson worries that once again the wishes of the majority of players will be ignored
The 42
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The 42
'There's a process that I've got to go through. It's bottom up, not top down'
CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Brian Molly has said he 'wants to see choice' for players to wear shorts or skorts but stressed he is not in a position to make unilateral change to rules. 'There's a process that I've got to go through. It's bottom up, not top down, I don't make these decisions, I have to go through a process,' Molloy said to RTÉ's This Week. On Thursday the Camogie Association announced a 'special congress' will be held later this month to consider motions addressing the ongoing skorts issue which has raged since last weekend when Dublin and Kilkenny players were told to change back into skorts or their game could not go ahead after they took to the pitch for a Leinster Championship match in shorts. Yesterday, the Waterford and Cork teams yesterday released a joint-statement expressing their 'bitter disappointment' with the decision to postpone yesterday's Munster final. The Munster Camogie cancelled the game in light of the planned protest by both teams against the wearing of skorts. The Louth and Wicklow camogie teams have this evening released a joint statement through the GPA after they saw their Leinster Junior final became the latest game to be postponed before the 22 May special congress. 'We, the players scheduled to compete in today's Leinster Final, are deeply disappointed by the postponement of the match,' the statement read. 'Playing in a Leinster Final is a significant honour, and delaying it due to a protest over an outdated rule disregards the time and preparation players have invested. Advertisement 'While we support the call for change, postponing games disrupts the sport and disrespects those ready to play. Players should have the freedom to wear what they feel most comfortable and confident in, enabling them to perform at their best. 'We urge congress on 22 May to recognise that change is needed and to ensure that player choice is a paramount consideration in any decision made.' Molloy said he and others have worked hard to resolve the issue. 'We proposed, first of all, that what we would do is bring forward the decision to Congress 26 rather than Congress 27. I had a very detailed conversation with the chief executive of the GPA and he welcomed that proposal and said he'd champion it,' Molloy said. 'We had a good conversation about how the two of us would then go around over the next six or seven month to the various counties to make sure the delegates understood the proposal and it would be an evidence-based process that we'd put in front of people. 'And then 24 hours later – and I've no issue with this whatsoever – the players indicated that wasn't enough, they wanted it faster than that. So I went back to Ard Comhairle again. There's a process that I've got to go through. It's bottom up, not top down, I don't make these decisions, I have to go through a process.' Derry's players return to the dressing room in shorts today after being told their Ulster final with Antrim could not go ahead unless players were wearing shorts. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Molloy said the Munster Council made the call to postpone their provincial final, and he '100%' supported the decision. 'I don't have the authority to tell a referee to put a rule to one side . . . as the president I absolutely have no choice but to operate within the actual rules,' he said. 'If someone else decides to do something different, there isn't a huge amount that I can do about that. I couldn't tell the referee to ignore a rule, and if I did, he would have to ignore me.' Molloy said that when it comes to official votes he 'can't tell a delegate how to vote' but added 'I can and have told delegates that they are to ask their players.' He said the process to resolve the skorts issue could 'possibly' have been done faster but that a lot of progress had been made in a short amount of time. 'You have to remember, this landed on my desk less than two weeks ago, and in less than two weeks, I will have a special congress – which is the only way I can have the rule changed. 'So in total elapsed time, less than one month after it landed on my desk, I will have a special congress fixing this issue for good in accordance with rules, without any sidestepping of rules, doing it properly in line with our association and the democratic views of our association. I can't overrule the democratic processes in our association.' Molloy said he cannot influence anybody's vote in a democratic process but, from his own perspective, he 'wants to see choice'.
The Journal
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Camogie Association President says he 'wants to see choice' but decision on skorts is not his
The 42 CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Brian Molloy has said he 'wants to see choice' for players to wear shorts or skorts but stressed he is not in a position to make unilateral change to rules. 'There's a process that I've got to go through. It's bottom up, not top down, I don't make these decisions, I have to go through a process,' Molloy said to RTÉ's This Week. On Thursday the Camogie Association announced a 'special congress' will be held later this month to consider motions addressing the ongoing skorts issue which has raged since last weekend when Dublin and Kilkenny players were told to change back into skorts or their game could not go ahead after they took to the pitch for a Leinster Championship match in shorts. Yesterday, the Waterford and Cork teams yesterday released a joint-statement expressing their 'bitter disappointment' with the decision to postpone yesterday's Munster final. The Munster Camogie cancelled the game in light of the planned protest by both teams against the wearing of skorts. The Louth and Wicklow camogie teams have this evening released a joint statement through the GPA after they saw their Leinster Junior final became the latest game to be postponed before the 22 May special congress. 'We, the players scheduled to compete in today's Leinster Final, are deeply disappointed by the postponement of the match,' the statement read. 'Playing in a Leinster Final is a significant honour, and delaying it due to a protest over an outdated rule disregards the time and preparation players have invested. 'While we support the call for change, postponing games disrupts the sport and disrespects those ready to play. Players should have the freedom to wear what they feel most comfortable and confident in, enabling them to perform at their best. 'We urge congress on 22 May to recognise that change is needed and to ensure that player choice is a paramount consideration in any decision made.' Molloy said he and others have worked hard to resolve the issue. 'We proposed, first of all, that what we would do is bring forward the decision to Congress 26 rather than Congress 27. I had a very detailed conversation with the chief executive of the GPA and he welcomed that proposal and said he'd champion it,' Molloy said. Advertisement 'We had a good conversation about how the two of us would then go around over the next six or seven month to the various counties to make sure the delegates understood the proposal and it would be an evidence-based process that we'd put in front of people. 'And then 24 hours later – and I've no issue with this whatsoever – the players indicated that wasn't enough, they wanted it faster than that. So I went back to Ard Comhairle again. There's a process that I've got to go through. It's bottom up, not top down, I don't make these decisions, I have to go through a process.' Derry's players return to the dressing room in shorts today after being told their Ulster final with Antrim could not go ahead unless players were wearing shorts. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO Molloy said the Munster Council made the call to postpone their provincial final, and he '100%' supported the decision. 'I don't have the authority to tell a referee to put a rule to one side . . . as the president I absolutely have no choice but to operate within the actual rules,' he said. 'If someone else decides to do something different, there isn't a huge amount that I can do about that. I couldn't tell the referee to ignore a rule, and if I did, he would have to ignore me.' Molloy said that when it comes to official votes he 'can't tell a delegate how to vote' but added 'I can and have told delegates that they are to ask their players.' He said the process to resolve the skorts issue could 'possibly' have been done faster but that a lot of progress had been made in a short amount of time. 'You have to remember, this landed on my desk less than two weeks ago, and in less than two weeks, I will have a special congress – which is the only way I can have the rule changed. 'So in total elapsed time, less than one month after it landed on my desk, I will have a special congress fixing this issue for good in accordance with rules, without any sidestepping of rules, doing it properly in line with our association and the democratic views of our association. I can't overrule the democratic processes in our association.' Molloy said he cannot influence anybody's vote in a democratic process but, from his own perspective, he 'wants to see choice'. Written by Ronan Early and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
The Journal
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Skorts controversy: Camogie Association to hold Special Congress in Croke Park to vote on motion
THE CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION will hold a 'special congress' this month to consider motions addressing the ongoing skorts issue. A statement from the Camogie Association read: 'The Camogie Association has announced that it will call a Special Congress on May 22 nd at Croke Park. 'The Special Congress is being called to consider motion(s) to provide all players with the choice to wear skorts or shorts while playing camogie. The decision on whether this motion is adopted will rest with the Congress delegates (delegates represent all members of the Association including all of our players). Advertisement 'The Association had proposed to deal with this issue at next year's Congress but having listened to player feedback, the Association recognises that waiting until 2026 is not acceptable for many. Although similar motions did not pass at the 2024 Congress, the Association is committed to representing the voices of players who wish to have a choice in their playing attire. If the motion(s) passes, the new rule(s) – allowing the option to wear skorts or shorts – would take effect from May 24th 2025. 'A working group, established to examine the comfort, fit, design and overall performance of playing wear, will remain in place and continue to engage with players at all levels across the country. 'Commenting on the updated position Uachtarán Brian Molloy said 'Our goal is to deliver, as quickly as possible, a best-in-class playing uniform designed for female players and allowing for individual choice.' 'The Camogie Association remains committed to respecting the democratic process in all decisions that affect all of our members, while ensuring the game evolves in a way that reflects the needs and voices of its players.' Written by Ciarán Kennedy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
