MEATH ALL-IRELAND WINNING goalkeeper Monica McGuirk is \u201cvery much in favour of\u201d the Gaelic Players\u2019 Association [GPA] motion calling for integration between the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.<\/p>\n
The GPA announced today that it had submitted a motion for consideration at GAA Congress on 26 February \u201curging the GAA to take proactive, meaningful and swift action to expediate integration with the LGFA and the Camogie Association\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is inter-county players\u2019 firmly held belief that for equality to be achieved within the Gaelic games family, integration of the three National Governing Bodies (NGBs) must be made a priority,\u201d a statement continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis can then in turn can have a major positive impact on wider Irish society. In recent research amongst our membership, 97% of all inter-county players backed integration between the three NGBs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The news broke when McGuirk and other ladies football stars were at the launch of the 2022 Lidl National Leagues in Newbridge.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not something that I personally think about too much but I do know the knock-on effect it has for all the players and clubs, the Gaelic and the hurling and camogie and everything,\u201d the 2019 and 2021 All-Star told The42<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cI would be very much in favour of it. I do hope it goes in the right direction and does see through to be able to be one unit, which would be great. It will be interesting to see how it goes now and the end of the month.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be great to see it all as just one. You see the publicity the women\u2019s [game] is getting now. At the moment, the women\u2019s [team] is kind of outshining the men in Meath football. That\u2019s not through fault of anybody\u2019s. I do think we have different levels in terms of the men and women; the Cork ladies dominated for how many years compared to the men, Dublin have been on par with each other in terms of where they\u2019ve got.<\/p>\n \u201cI do think it\u2019s a step in the right direction and hopefully it keeps going that way.\u201d<\/p>\n A monumental vote to merge the Women\u2019s Gaelic Players Association [WGPA] and its male equivalent in the GPA was held in December 2020, with many players hailing it as such.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s a huge step forward for us. I can only see positives coming from it,\u201d Cork star Doireann O\u2019Sullivan said at the time, believing the\u00a0merger into a single 4,000-member representative for inter-county players\u00a0may pave the way for amalgamation at a higher level.<\/p>\n McGuirk would certainly be in support of all coming under the one umbrella with joined-up thinking in place.<\/p>\n GPA motion calls for integration between the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.#Equalityhttps:\/\/t.co\/X8FB6xntZb<\/p>\n — GPA (@gaelicplayers) February 8, 2022<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Speaking about the motion earlier today GPA\u00a0CEO and former Mayo footballer, Tom Parsons noted:<\/p>\n \u201cThe spirit of this motion is about action for gender equality in sport and bringing the Gaelic family together. It is about showing women and girls, whether they are involved in Gaelic games or not, that the biggest sporting and cultural organisation in Ireland values you every bit as much as it does your brothers, partners, nephews and husbands.<\/p>\n \u201cWe appreciate and respect the three NGBs have been on a journey towards closer links and closer co-operation. \u00a0What players are asking for now is that the GAA expediate this process, in a spirit of consultation with the LGFA and Camogie Association. I believe this change will have the power to unite us and ignite Gaelic games.<\/p>\n \n Get closer to the stories that matter with exclusive analysis, insight and debate in The42 Membership.\n <\/p>\n Become a Member<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe outcome players want to see is a road map that sets out clear actions and timelines that leads to one national organisation overseeing our games. Players believe in today\u2019s world we must deliver equal opportunity, recognition and investment regardless of gender and that this motion supports the GAA mantra \u2018Where we all belong\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn recent times we have seen the overwhelming decision by players to merge the WGPA and GPA\u00a0and since that decision the government has backed equality with the announcement of equal investment and recognition for players,\u201d the GPA\u2019s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager and Tyrone All-Ireland winner Gemma Begley added.<\/p>\n \u201cChanges like this have made a huge difference for female players, but ultimately players believe equality cannot be truly achieved under separate governing bodies.<\/p>\n \u201cNow players are asking the leadership of our Gaelic games to hear our voice and take immediate action to make equality a key priority for the association.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n
DIFFERENTLY<\/p>\n