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The 42
23-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
A historic moment for camogie but why did it take this long for choice to prevail?
'HE'S COMING….' The words we had been waiting for all evening had finally arrived. It was followed quickly by the sound of footsteps in the distance becoming gradually louder. In the room, there was a flicker of needless movement. A tap of a laptop key or another look at a phone to make sure a camera was facing the right way. Anything to feel a bit more ready. But, of course, we were already locked into position. Everyone had two of everything to cover both outcomes. Two drafts ready to be published. Two different messages to post on X. Motion passed. Or motion defeated. No to shorts. Yes to shorts. Which way would Caeser's thumb point? Surely, a marginal win either way, we thought. Advertisement And then Camogie Association President Brian Molloy began to speak. White smoke from the camogie conclave. An overwhelming yes to shorts and skorts together, he said. A 98% yes, if you please. In the end, it was all so simple and yet, it poses a pertinent question: why did it take this long for choice to prevail? 'Was their much debate?' one journalist asked after he delivered the outcome of the Camogie Association Special Congress. 'No,' came Molloy's response. 'There was no need for a debate,' he added later. An almost unanimous decision to empower players with the right to choose between skorts and shorts, and finally draw the curtain on a difficult few weeks for everyone involved in camogie. It comes just in time for the commencement of the All-Ireland camogie championship this weekend. Preparing for battle is the only burden players will carry. Playing under protest is no longer something they have to consider. Hearing about matches being postponed on the eve of throw-in is no longer something they have to fear. And while this was ultimately a night of celebration for camogie, one must also reflect on the misery players have endured to bring about this result. They are the ones who launched this movement. Camogie Association President Brian Molloy. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO They are the ones who emerged on pitches in shorts to make the public aware of their cause. They are the ones who either refused outright to play in skorts or would only agree wear skorts but without consenting to photography or video clips of their games. They are the ones who have been asked by media for interviews about their feelings on the matter, or for updates on what form of protest their team is planning for an upcoming game. Essentially, they are the ones left picking up the tab. Some provincial finals have been cancelled due to the protests, and there is no indication for when those games will be refixed. It will be difficult to find a free date with the All-Ireland championships now taking over the calendar. Many will feel this matter should have been resolved last year when two motions on skorts were put before the Camogie Congress. However, both were defeated. From that disappointment, a raging desire for change emerged. And yet, just one year on from that Congress, any sense of division on this matter has all but been severed. Only around three people out of 133 delegates voted to prevent the inclusion of shorts in the sport's playing attire. Since the media was not permitted to attend Special Congress, we can only rely on the president's description of how the delegates came to this decision. They began, he says, by having some food and interacting with each other. He added that it was clear that the delegates had engaged with their players before attending Special Congress to vote. Related Reads Camogie president hails 'fantastic victory for choice' as shorts added to sport's attire Shorts permitted in camogie after overwhelming majority vote at Special Congress Decision day as camogie set for major vote on skorts controversy 'It's been really difficult for the volunteers,' Molloy said while commenting on the challenging period that has preceded this historic moment. 'It's been really difficult for the players. Players just want to play camogie. 'I think the message that goes out to players is we will react, we will engage, we will work. If you talk to us we will work with you but we will do it within our rules. We can only do it within our rules. 'We cannot set aside rules just because people want us to. I'd like to see other associations that could point to turning around a rule change as quick as we have done here.' Throughout his address, he referred to how the Camogie Association responded to the outcry for choice and change within the sport. 'We didn't have you waiting too long,' he added. 'It was a fairly quick congress.' That may be true in the context of tonight. But on a broader scale, the players have waited too long for this.
The 42
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Shorts permitted in camogie after overwhelming majority vote at Special Congress
CAMOGIE PLAYERS WILL be permitted to wear shorts in matches going forward after a motion passed at Special Congress this evening in Croke Park. The motion — which needed a two-thirds majority in order to be passed — succeeded after receiving an overwhelming 98% of the votes from delegates. Camogie Association President Brian Molloy announced the result, which means every player will now have the option of wearing shorts instead of compulsory skorts. Advertisement 'We are pleased to announce that delegates have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of giving players greater choice in their playing attire,' said Molloy on a landmark day in the history of the association. 'From midnight tonight, each individual player will have the option to wear skorts or shorts – adding choice while maintaining the professionalism and uniformity of our team kits in both colour and design. 'I want to sincerely thank our incredible volunteers for their ongoing support over the last few weeks, and to our delegates for voting on behalf of over 120,000 members, including 94,000 playing members. 'As the All-Ireland championships begin this weekend, we ask everyone to support their teams, drive higher attendances at all upcoming games, and help us fill Croke Park for the finals on August 10th.' Players have campaigned vigorously for change in recent weeks and have staged protests by wearing shorts on matchdays. Some matches have been cancelled as a result while others were played out as normal after teams completed their warm-ups in shorts and changed back into skorts before throw-in. Motions concerning skorts went before Camogie Congress last year but were defeated. The matter was not intended to be heard at Congress again until 2027 but following a wave of public pressure, the Camogie Association announced a Special Congress for today to address the issue of skorts. The Gaelic Players' Association released a statement shortly after the result was announced at Croke Park. 'We welcome the result of this evening's vote for choice at the Camogie Association Special Congress. 'The GPA would like to put on the record our admiration for camogie players across Ireland and beyond, both at inter-county and club level, who made their voices heard to ensure this outcome. 'To our own membership who have led the campaign for choice, we salute your willingness to stand up for both yourselves, and future generations of camogie players. 'We thank the delegates who listened to players' call for choice. 'The last few weeks have once again shown the necessity of putting players at the heart of decision making within Gaelic games.' Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
The Journal
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
Shorts permitted in camogie after overwhelming majority vote at Special Congress
The 42 CAMOGIE PLAYERS WILL be permitted to wear shorts in matches going forward after a motion passed at Special Congress this evening in Croke Park. The motion — which needed a two-thirds majority in order to be passed — succeeded after receiving an overwhelming 98% of the votes from delegates. Camogie Association President Brian Molloy announced the result, which means every player will now have the option of wearing shorts instead of compulsory skorts. 'We are pleased to announce that delegates have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of giving players greater choice in their playing attire,' said Molloy on a landmark day in the history of the association. 'From midnight tonight, each individual player will have the option to wear skorts or shorts – adding choice while maintaining the professionalism and uniformity of our team kits in both colour and design. 'I want to sincerely thank our incredible volunteers for their ongoing support over the last few weeks, and to our delegates for voting on behalf of over 120,000 members, including 94,000 playing members. 'As the All-Ireland championships begin this weekend, we ask everyone to support their teams, drive higher attendances at all upcoming games, and help us fill Croke Park for the finals on August 10th.' Advertisement Players have campaigned vigorously for change in recent weeks and have staged protests by wearing shorts on matchdays. Some matches have been cancelled as a result while others were played out as normal after teams completed their warm-ups in shorts and changed back into skorts before throw-in. Motions concerning skorts went before Camogie Congress last year but were defeated. The matter was not intended to be heard at Congress again until 2027 but following a wave of public pressure, the Camogie Association announced a Special Congress for today to address the issue of skorts. The Gaelic Players' Association released a statement shortly after the result was announced at Croke Park. 'We welcome the result of this evening's vote for choice at the Camogie Association Special Congress. 'The GPA would like to put on the record our admiration for camogie players across Ireland and beyond, both at inter-county and club level, who made their voices heard to ensure this outcome. 'To our own membership who have led the campaign for choice, we salute your willingness to stand up for both yourselves, and future generations of camogie players. 'We thank the delegates who listened to players' call for choice. 'The last few weeks have once again shown the necessity of putting players at the heart of decision making within Gaelic games.' Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here Written by Sinead Farrell 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 .
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Skorts issue is parked but Camogie Association has other challenges to address
In the end, the Camogie Association has arrived at the right solution, albeit via a rather circuitous route, as an agreement was reached tonight to allow players the choice between wearing skorts or shorts. Uachtarán Brian Molloy said this evening: "We are pleased to announce that delegates have voted by an overwhelming majority in favour of giving players greater choice in their playing attire. From midnight tonight, each individual player will have the option to wear skorts or shorts - adding choice while maintaining the professionalism and uniformity of our team kits in both colour and design. "I want to sincerely thank our incredible volunteers for their ongoing support over the last few weeks, and to our delegates for voting on behalf of over 120,000 members, including 94,000 playing members. "As the All-Ireland Championships begin this weekend, we ask everyone to support their teams, drive higher attendances at all upcoming games, and help us fill Croke Park for the finals on August 10th." Indeed, the wait might even have been longer. A similar motion to allow players to wear shorts rather than skorts fell short at last year's Camogie Congress and wasn't due to be debated in that particular forum again until 2027. When the Kilkenny and Dublin camogie teams protested on the matter earlier this month, there came a pledge to move the matter forward to next year. With that being wholly insufficient, tonight's Special Congress was hastily convened and the matter finally put to bed, but not without further needless embarrassment, not to mention angst for players in the meantime. The Waterford-Cork Munster final was pulled at the 11th hour as players made it clear that they would only wear shorts, leaving players 'devastated' and 'demoralised'. The Kilkenny and Wexford players fulfilled the Leinster final last Saturday in skorts under protest after first presenting themselves to play the game in shorts. A Special Congress could have been called remotely at an earlier stage to avoid all of that. It wouldn't have been without precedent; the GAA convened a virtual Special Congress in April 2020 to deal with the havoc that the Covid-19 pandemic was wreaking in a more expedient manner. Desperate times and all that. The Camogie Association may argue that time was needed to tease the issue out and there is merit in that, but it was hardly worth it in the context of reputational damage suffered in the interim. Indeed, surely a derogation of rule could have been applied for the rest of the season with a Special Congress staged later in the year when emotions around the issue would have calmed? While this has snowballed into a significant story that has engaged people with less than a passing interest in sport, the reality is that the general public will move on quickly now that sense has finally prevailed. But challenges remain for the Camogie Association. As of 3pm yesterday, venues had yet to be confirmed on its website for the All-Ireland Championship games scheduled for a week from tomorrow. Female dual players remain prevalent, and every year there seems to be controversy around camogie and football fixtures going head to head and players being forced to choose. There'll surely be more before this summer is out. The LGFA has a part in that too but is generally more progressive, not least for allowing its players to wear shorts, and has drawn crowds to its showpiece events that the CA could only dream of. The integration of the CA, LGFA and GAA, which is being led by former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, is due to be completed by 2027. It seems an overly optimistic target but, for female players who feel that they are being poorly served, it can't come quickly enough.
RTÉ News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Breaking Camogie Assocation give green light to wearing of shorts after special congress
Following a special congress at Croke Park, the Camogie Association has voted overwhelmingly in favour of allowing shorts to become part of the official kit for the code. The ballot saw 98% vote in favour of the change. And as a result players will have the option of wearing shorts or skorts, starting with this weekend's games in the All-Ireland senior, premier junior and Under-23 championship matches. Tonight's decision follows on from the stance taken by a number of county teams in recent weeks, starting with Kilkenny and Dublin wearing shorts ahead of their Leinster semi-final, before changing into skorts after being told the game would not be played. There would be further controversy in Munster though as the provincial final was deferred a day before the game as Cork and Waterford had indicated that they would be wearing shorts. A motion went before the 2024 Camogie Congress in Kildare to allow players to wear shorts fell well short of the 66% support required to pass as only 45% voted in favour. With that motion failing it was widely expected that the issue would not be put before congress again until 2027, however the recent furore prompted the association to call tonight's vote.
