Wexford Camogie Player Says GAA Integration Must Deliver Equal Opportunities

A Wexford camogie player says the proposed integration of the GAA, ladies football and camogie must ensure women and girls are given the same opportunities and valued equally.

Anais Curran, who plays with Oulart - the Ballagh, was speaking to South East Radio news following the resignation of former President Dr Mary McAleese as chair of the committee overseeing the planned amalgamation.

Dr McAleese stepped down from the role on Tuesday after the GAA told the committee it could not commit to a definitive timeline for integration.

The original aim was for the three organisations to be fully integrated by 2027, but that timeline is now in doubt.

Curran says equality does not necessarily mean everything has to be identical, but women and girls should have access to the same opportunities as men and boys.

She says that includes access to pitches, facilities and other supports, while ensuring young girls coming through the sport know they are considered just as important.

Curran says there are still examples at club level across Ireland where women's teams can be treated as second best when it comes to pitch allocation and facilities.

However, she says her own club, is an example of how a one-club model can work.She says teams are treated equally when it comes to pitch access, operating on a first-come, first-served basis.

Curran hopes more clubs across Wexford and the country will take ownership of equality between their men's and women's teams.On concerns around the cost of integration, she acknowledges that funding will be a challenge, but says the focus should be on finding solutions.

She believes the GAA and the other organisations should look at sponsorship and ways of making women's sport attractive to potential financial backers.

Curran says if integration is the goal, there needs to be a clear plan for funding and investment to make it happen.