Unanimous support for LGFA/GAA merger among Kerry players
Kerry LGFA chairman Walsh says merger should happen
A SURVEY carried out by The Kerryman of 30 female Kerry footballers has shown unanimous support for the amalgamation of the LGFA and the GAA.
In addition, Kerry LGFA chairman Seán Walsh says moves towards an amalgamation should start “sooner rather than later”.
In recent weeks there has been growing calls for the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), which governs ladies football, to become fully affiliated with the GAA, which runs Gaelic games for men, particularly off the back of the controversy around the All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Cork and Galway that saw the game switched very late from Parnell Park to Croke Park, which left the Galway players with almost no time to warm-up before the game.
There is also an on-going debate about a possible merger of the LGFA and the Camogie Association, which Seán Walsh feels should happen first, before that new governing body would then amalgamate wit the GAA.
The Kerryman surveyed 30 active Kerry women panellists, whose ages range from 18 to 28, and asked them three questions.
First, are you aware that the LGFA and the GAA are two separate organisations? Every player answered ‘yes’ to this.
Second, do you think that the LGFA should amalgamate with the GAA? All 30 respondents answered ‘yes’ to this question also.
Third, the players were asked their reasons for answering Yes or No to question 2?
A number of interesting answers were given, with many of the players citing ‘equality’ as one of their reasons.
One player made an emotional appeal to be treated in the same way as her male counterparts when she said: “They should amalgamate so that there is equal support, equal access to facilities, equal funding for players development. Also, so that money from sponsors like Kerry Group is divided equally amongst male and female players. Things like food after all trainings, access to gyms, travel expenses, boots for players, doctors at games. Also, for our supporters to be able to buy the gear in the Kerry GAA Store.”
Another player stated: “I said yes to amalgamation because it would bring more equality if there was one association and ladies players might get some of the benefits that men’s players get. It would be good for getting pitches too because at the moment men’s teams get priority when they want to use their pitch for either training or games.”
MONEY and funding was also very prominent in the players answers with one commenting: “I believe that they should amalgamate to allow money to be distributed evenly across both organisations. This would result in fair and equal treatment of both women and men. I believe that it would bring greater equity for ladies footballers, a stronger platform to promote the game, and a unified voice from the sport. It can only be a positive thing and it would promote equality between men and women in all aspects of life. From my understanding the LGFA isn’t as well funded as the GAA and with amalgamation the two organisations may be treated more equally with more prioritisation and funding.”
One of the younger players surveyed felt that amalgamation between the GAA and LGFA would be a good idea as she has experienced inequality since her school days: “I have spent my entire life playing ladies football and I have sat in classrooms and hung out with guys that play Gaelic football at the same standard as myself but are treated much better. My male peers have more access to pitches, sponsors, etc. Also, during 2020 despite the huge 20x20 campaign, the minute Covid-19 hit the LGFA called an end to all underage inter county competitions. Meanwhile, the GAA allowed their boys to play their provincial finals.”
Kerry LGFA chairman Seán Walsh is in favour of a merger of the LGFA and the GAA, but says the ladies football governing body and the camogie association should to come together first and form one administrative body, which would then amalgamate with the GAA.
“I think that it’s apparent to everybody after this year that it has to start sooner rather than later in relation to merging our three organisations (GAA, Camogie
and LGFA),” Mr Walsh told The Kerryman. “What amazes me, and has always amazed me, is that both Camogie and Ladies Football have never made any attempts to come together as the one organisation, which you would think would be happening first before you do the full amalgamation.
“What I believe is that tentative steps should be taken sooner rather than later to have the one organisation.
“I think that that would be natural progression if it happens. I see no reason for it not to happen and for tentative steps to be taken to start the process. It won’t happen overnight, but it could happen over the next number of years with the putting in place of rule changes and all that.
“When we were investigating the ‘One Club’ we had to change the rules of all three organisations in order to allow that to happen, and it did happen. And like I say, the clubs where it operates are successful.
“For me it stands to reason that it would be beneficial in terms of financial support for all the teams. We just can’t continue to have different amounts of teams from the one parish trying to draw (financial) support for that team. If it was all one and there was a conjoined level of fundraising it would make things an awful lot easier for everyone.”