Camogie skorts protest leads to Cork-Waterford final being postponed
Photo:
AFP
A major final in the Irish sport of camogie has been called off after the women playing in the game refused to wear skorts.
The Munster final between Cork and Waterford was postponed as the stars of camogie, the women's version of hurling, made it clear they wanted the option to play in shorts.
The Camogie Association of Ireland broke its silence eight days after player protests began, as the governing body's president said he wants and expects a motion to change the rule to be successful.
The rules governing camogie state that playing gear must include a skirt, skort or divided skirt.
Last Saturday (local time), Dublin and Kilkenny entered the pitch wearing shorts before changing into skorts to avoid their Leinster Championship semifinal being abandoned, but after Cork and Waterford announced their intention to play in shorts, the Munster final was postponed.
The Munster Council postponed the game, giving less than 24 hours' notice, and the teams issued a statement that said the decision showed "scant regard" for the players.
"We feel completely let down," the statement from Waterford and Cork read.
"Both panels had meticulously planned to peak for today. Training schedules and workload will now have to be readjusted, while not even knowing when the game will take place.
"There was an opportunity to take a step forward from the recent controversy. Instead, a provincial final has been postponed because we took control of what we would wear.
"To us, that feels like a massive step backwards."
Camogie Association President Brian Molloy told local radio he "empathised with where the players are coming from".
"From Munster Council's perspective, I 100 percent support their decision," he said.
"The key here is that we were working right up to the wire to try and resolve the issue, and we thought we had."
Dublin captain Aisling Maher had been vocal about the issue, saying the skorts were "uncomfortable and unfit for purpose", but stressing the issue is more about the lack of choice.
"How are female players still having to push for permission to wear shorts while they compete at the highest level of their sport," she wrote on Instagram, describing the scenes before the Leinster semifinal as a "career low".
"In no other facet of my life does someone dictate that I have to wear something resembling a skirt because I am a girl. Why is it happening in my sport?"
The Gaelic Players' Association (GPA) released research saying 83 percent of players would prefer to wear shorts or believe players should have the option.
It also showed 70 percent of players reported discomfort while wearing skorts, 65 percent were concerned about exposure in photographs and video content, and half said they had experienced anxiety around period leaks.
Two motions to change the rule were defeated last year, and player pressure has seen the association call a special congress for 22 May to vote on a new motion to introduce shorts as an option.
"We proposed to the GPA that we would bring forward the congress decision to 2026, and I had a very detailed conversation with the GPA chief executive, who welcomed that proposal," Molloy said.
"Then 24 hours later, and I have no issue with this whatsoever, the players indicated, no, that wasn't enough. They wanted it faster than that."
Louth and Wicklow also joined the protest movement, saying the rule was "outdated" and urging the sport's governing bodies to get with the times.
The All-Ireland championship is scheduled to begin two days after the congress, and another vote against shorts would put the sport's premier competition at serious risk.
"I have to be careful not to be seen to be telling anybody how to vote. I am saying unequivocally that I want to see choice. That's my personal view," Molloy said.
"I've spoken to a lot of delegates, and the consistent feedback is that they are 100 percent behind keeping the skort but giving the option for shorts.
"I'm very comfortable that we will get the support to get it across the line."
- Reuters/ABC
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