The Chair of the Oireachtas Sports Committee says the resignation of Dr Mary McAleese from the Gaelic Games Integration Committee is ‘Disappointing but not surprising”.
The former President of Ireland was appointed by the GAA in 2022 for the role with the group overseeing the amalgamation of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association.
But she announced her decision to stand down from her position this week.
Sports Minister Patrick O’Donovan says integrating the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association remains an “absolute priority” and will meet with the GAA today, noting plans to delay the process beyond the end of next year would create a “roadblock”.
The GAA has issued the following statement on its website:
The LGFA notes:
While the Camogie Association says it shares the disappointment of Dr McAleese and remains committed to the original 2027 target:
Chair of the Oireachtas Sports Committee, Tipperary North and North West Kilkenny TD Alan Kelly says you can’t ask someone like Dr McAleese to commit to a deadline – and then fail to honour it, noting; “Former President McAleese is somebody hugely respected and for her to resign is one thing but her statement as to why she’s resigning, given the evidence that she gave and others gave in front of the Oireachtas Committee on Sport, and the commitments that were given that the dates would be honoured, you know, this is a difficult time now for the GAA family and for the GAA”.
