Camogie Association investing €845k with minimum standards charter
THE Camogie Association is investing €845,000 in a new minimum standards Player Charter in an effort to elevate the standards of inter-county teams and enhance the playing environment for women in sport. This milestone proposal will extend to the 26 counties participating in both the Very National League and Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Championship, exclusively for first teams. The Camogie Association has pledged €32,500 to every team, culminating in a substantial total investment of €845,000. Camogie Association president Hilda Breslin has hailed the charter as ‘a huge breakthrough’. This funding is in addition to the €1.1million invested by government (€42,366 per county) for team supports and player expenses. The Player Charter’s requirements and recommendations include vital aspects like expenses, facilities, physical support, performance support, nutrition, and gear – all designed to support a maximum squad of 30 players. From 2024, each county will have access to almost €75,000 worth of financial support towards running of county teams divided across team support (€29,000) and player expenses (€45,866). The exact mechanism of the association’s contribution to expenses will be finalised in the coming weeks. ‘The Camogie Association’s Player Charter signifies our dedication to agreed minimum required standards and player expenses,’ said Breslin, ‘reflecting a substantial investment of €845,000 by the Camogie Association. This Charter has been formulated through engagement and research with camogie county boards and covers substantial costs, ensuring a level field from
which all counties can start their journey towards excellence.’ The Gaelic Players Association has campaigned hard around a players charter for female intercounty players and a series of protests took place last year, protests which were then supported by male intercounty players. Those protests though have been criticised of late by numerous GAA officials with outgoing president Larry McCarthy describing them as ‘distracting and unnecessary’ and also ‘inappropriate’. And LGFA CEO Helen O’Rourke is the latest to take issue with the protests in her report to Congress. She described them as having overshadowed the championship, saying the association was ‘surprised and disappointed’ by such action and that it ‘left a sour taste in our mouths’. Meanwhile, Suir Engineering has been announced as the new title sponsor for Waterford GAA.