GAA unity in 2027 as all bodies agree to form one association

A statement on Monday from the Steering Group on Integration, led by former President of Ireland Mary McAleese, confirmed the original timeline, with a new unified association to be called "the GAA".

That’s significant in that the Camogie Association and LGFA have obviously put aside any concerns over a loss of individual identity for their own associations, and any potential dilution of their games or brand as a whole.

Nine key principles were outlined in the statement, with one of those jumping off the page: "Post integration, there will be one Association, called the GAA."

A single unified membership structure will apply to all members after integration, with the basic structures of club, county, province and national structures continuing. Current officer roles at each unit will largely remain, including the main positions such as secretary, treasurer, children’s officer.

A new GAA club constitution will be introduced to reflect the expanded range of playing codes in the new association and, following integration, all clubs will be formally affiliated with the new GAA.

The existing GAA rulebook is to be updated and amended to "ensure appropriate and effective representation of the Camogie Association and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association within the rules".

 GAA president Jarlath Burns recently claimed the project could cost up to €500m – a figure described as "nonsense" by Camogie Association president Brian Molloy who answered: "Integration is not inventing women and it’s not inventing camogie or ladies football.

"They play on those pitches and they use those dressing rooms already.

"Those dressing rooms in a lot of those pitches do need to be upgraded but the cost is not a cost of integration, it’s a cost of upgrading infrastructure."

"McAleese signed off with a call for extra funding, an understanding of the need for investment."

"This will necessitate a strategic call on funding in due course, so that we can continue to honour our commitment to the Gaelic games family in every community."

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.