Eimear Ryan: Fear the unspoken hurdle to integrating three Gaelic games bodies
LGFA president Mícheál Naughton with LGFA chief executive Helen O’Rourke during the GAA Congress at NUI Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome in Bekan, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
‘Integration’ is the word on everyone’s lips. According to the dictionary, it’s the action or process of integrating; the intermixing of people who were previously segregated. When a motion to unite the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association was proposed by GPA co-chair Maria Kinsella at congress last weekend, it was overwhelmingly supported from the floor. Integration is the word; ‘merger’ is no longer the preferred nomenclature. Does it sound too corporate?
"Corporate entities can come together relatively quickly but you have three different cultural associations coming together," said GAA president Larry McCarthy, managing expectations about the integration happening overnight. There is a ruthlessness involved with a corporate merger, perhaps; a top-down approach. This will require a more delicate touch, and McCarthy will be keenly aware that he has to bring everyone along with him.
