Inter-County ladies football and camogie players will play the remainder of this year’s Championships “under protest.”
Players representing 24 county sides gathered at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Dublin this morning to voice their concerns at the failure of the GAA and LGFA to engage in negotiations on a 'Charter for Minimum Standards of Player Welfare.'
Camogie chiefs have agreed to view a Gaelic Players’ Association (GPA) presentation on the issue, but the LGFA position is to conclude the integration process first.
Strike action was considered, but is not on the table for now, with no concrete indiciation on what form any protest might take.
But the players have told their governing bodies "not to expect business as usual in the coming weeks and months."
The GPA and inter-county female players say they are being treated as “second class citizens” and insist they are “resolute in our pusuit of a better future.”
The players say they have “the full support” of their players and of members from junior and intermediate sides.
Recent disputes in Cavan and Kildare over player welfare issues were highlighted at a press conference with the players insisting they are “not willing to wait for 56 more individual battles to arise.””
A GPA statement on behalf of the players read: “We find ourselves in a situation we never wished to be in, echoing the experiences of our soccer and rugby counterparts in recent years.
“Regrettably, we feel that our National Governing Bodies do not want to hear our real concerns, so we're speaking directly to you.
“We will play the remainder of the 2023 Championship under protest.
“Our representative body, the Gaelic Players Association, released the 'State of Play' report two months ago, which shed light on significant issues within our training and playing environments.
“The main request has been well-documented.
“We asked the LGFA, the Camogie Association, and the GAA to engage in discussions with the GPA to develop a charter designed for female players to be implemented in the 2024 season.
“This charter would establish minimum standards for our collective welfare.
“Upon the report's publication, the GPA privately contacted the three National Governing Bodies, seeking collaboration to achieve an agreed-upon charter.
"Our aim was to work together towards a positive outcome that would make us all proud.
“Despite initial positive indications, the GAA has since declined our proposal.
"The Camogie Association, however, did request a presentation to be made to their Ard Chomhairle, which took place last week.
“Regrettably, the LGFA has not deemed it appropriate to respond.
“Their primary rationale is that they prefer to complete the integration process before initiating a charter for female players."
The players and the GPA says they are being expected to "patiently endure the treatment of second-class citizens."
“We are no longer willing to wait," the statement continued.
"It has been over 18 months since integration was declared a priority and voted in by the membership of the three Associations.
“While the National Governing Bodies claim to be listening, it is evident that they are not truly hearing us.
“Urgent issues affecting player welfare have been brought to their attention, yet they refuse to even engage collectively to discuss solutions.
“We as players are not receiving the respect we deserve. Therefore, do not expect business as usual in the upcoming weeks and months.
“In recent months Cavan's footballers and Kildare's camogie players have shown us what potentially lies in store for all of us if nothing changes.”
