The GAA Director General, Tom Ryan, has said that integration of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and Camogie Association into the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is still "a number of years away."
Ryan, along with GAA President Jarlath Burns, LGFA President Trina Murray, and Camogie Association President Brian Molloy, met in front of the Oireachtas committee on Wednesday to discuss progress on integration as well as the shock resignation of Dr. Mary McAleese from the Integration Steering Group.
When formal plans for integration were announced in 2024, the official timeline would’ve seen all three organisations merged into one by 2027, but as the end of 2026 approaches, it’s clear that it won’t come to pass.
Speaking about when we can expect integration to finally take place, Jarlath Burns stated that he is still hopeful it can be done by 2028; meanwhile, Director General Tom Ryan was a bit more conservative in his estimation.
"This is a huge undertaking," Ryan explained. "This is the biggest thing that our organisation has done since its inception 140 years ago… when we go to Congress, we will set out what needs to happen, and we will set out when it needs to happen… I think that is a process that will take a number of years."
The meeting began by addressing the resignation of Dr. Mary McAleese from the Integration Steering Group. The former President of Ireland announced her shock resignation last month, after four years as chairperson for the group, when the GAA indicated that it wouldn’t meet the 2027 deadline.
Burns admitted that those involved "were all devastated that we lost Dr. McAleese but we’re all back on this wagon. We really want it to happen." He added that he thought McAleese resigned "because she thought we were going to make every deadline we put forth.
"And once she realised we were going to miss the first deadline, she wanted to walk away from the process, which was very disappointing to us and we regret that."
The GAA President then went on to acknowledge and credit the work Dr. McAleese did during her four years working on the project. "Let us be clear, Dr. McAleese’s work over the past four years in advancing integration and the achievement in aligning our Associations remains in place, and this work has not been lost.
"Dr. McAleese’s work as Chair of the Steering Group on Integration has brought us a huge way down the road and we are closer to that goal because of her work – not further away. There have also been some who questioned the commitment of our three organisations – and let’s call a spade a spade, specifically the GAA – towards integration.
"Well, let me be equally straight here with you – the three presidents and three Ard Stiúrthóirí sitting before you this afternoon are here to say that we are committed to achieving integration of our organisations and we will achieve it.
"We will do so because our organisations will be stronger together and all our members will benefit from us operating under one body and making sure everyone enjoys the benefits of that one new organisation. That is our guiding star and has always been."
He concluded: "To every young woman, young girl and also to the men and boys who operate under the umbrella of the Gaelic games family – we say to you that our games are for everyone and our commitment to making this happen is as firm as ever and we say that with one voice."
Burns also rejected any notion of gender bias on the project, saying: "Women do have genuine influence" while also reiterating that the GAA and Camogie Association are already integrated at the top level.
He also thanked the Government for the money the GAA received in the Budget.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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