'Archaic' rule on skorts is 'taking away from the game', says Fine Gael senator

Former sports broadcaster and now senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn has pleaded with the Camogie Association to look again at the rules. Picture: Moya Nolan

Rules that force camogie players to wear skorts are “archaic” and must be abandoned, a Fine Gael senator has said.

At a weekend inter-county match between Dublin and Kilkenny, officials refused to allow the game to proceed because the players took to the field in shorts.

Both sets of players were forced to change into skorts to prevent the game from being abandoned.

Former sports broadcaster and now senator Evanne Ní Chuilinn has pleaded with the Camogie Association to look again at the rules. 

"The skort rule is becoming a barrier, and it has also taken away from the sport itself. We should have been talking about the game, but instead, we are talking about the impossible position female players are placed in,” Ms Ní Chuilinn said.

To think that the Association was happy to let two senior intercounty squads turn up to a championship match and then refuse to let them play is infuriating for anyone trying to encourage women and girls to be active in sport.

A survey from the Gaelic Players Association has found that 83% of camogie players find skorts “uncomfortable and inappropriate”.

“This sentiment isn’t new. The protest by Dublin and Kilkenny players was replicated fifteen years ago,” Ms Ní Chuilinn added.

At the Leinster senior camogie semi-final on Saturday, players from Dublin and Kilkenny were told by the referee that they would need to change into skorts or the match would be abandoned.

Both sets of players reluctantly agreed to revert back to wearing skorts, but the teams could face further action for their initial defiance.

Labour TD Alan Kelly, chair of the Oireachtas sport committee, described the rules around skorts as “bananas”.

“We can’t continue to ignore this. No sportsperson should have to tog out in gear that’s unsuitable and uncomfortable,” Mr Kelly said.