GPA CEO Tom Parsons claims integration is the 'greatest opportunity in the history of Gaelic games'

Tom Parsons and Aisling Maher. Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho

The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) said integration is “not a problem to be solved” at an Oireachtas hearing on Wednesday.

The official inter-county players body were speaking specifically on the topic in front of the joint committee on arts, media, communications, culture and sport. Among their delegation were three current inter-county players, co-chairperson of the GPA national executive committee Aisling Maher (Dublin), Conor Meyler (Tyrone) and Shane O’Donnell (Clare).

Describing the merging of the three Gaelic games bodies as “a once in a lifetime opportunity”, GPA chief executive Tom Parsons said: “The integration of the Gaelic games family represents the greatest transformation since the GAA's foundation.

“It is our opportunity to unite every boy, girl, man, woman under one shared identity, one association that treats every person, every athlete with equal respect, equal recognition and equal opportunity. Integration is about so much more than resources.

“It's not a problem to be solved. It's the greatest opportunity in the history of Gaelic games and therefore should be the first strategic priority of our national governing bodies. The GPA members, the players who give so much of their time freely, their energy, their love to these games, have every right to help shape that future.”

The GPA amalgamated in 2021 and were successful with a motion at Special Congress a year later that proposed the GAA prioritise the merging process with the Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie Associations.

The GPA published details of its pre-budget submission where it asks for an increase in the government grant for inter-county players to an average of €2500. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

As they did in May, the GPA expressed frustration with the lack of progress in the integration process. They reported they have met with the Mary McAleese-led steering group on two occasions, the most recent meeting taking place last month.

In her address, GPA head of equality and player relations Gemma Begley said: “It (integration) must be led through purpose, vision and heart and the GPA stands ready, not as bystanders but as builders of the future. We believe the visible leadership about the opportunities for integration has been lacking and we want that to change too.” 

Longford-Westmeath TD and former Longford GAA Central Council delegate Micheál Carrigy took exception with the GPA’s calls to be at the centre of the integration process.

“I don't agree that the GPA should be sitting at the table with the three associations. The three associations represent the membership across the entire country and internationally.

“And in my view, every member is equal within the association. But you (GPA) don't seem to think so by coming in here and asking us to put you at the table that represents 0.66% of the entire membership of the organisation.” 

Maher expressed concerns about the 2027 deadline for integration set by the steering committee. “My fear with the ‘27 deadline at the minute is that there hasn't been enough communication with everybody on the ground and not just inter-county players, but all members of all GAA clubs.” 

On the same topic, Meyler remarked: “To me, equality is a commitment to a direction, rather than a moment in time. Speaking loosely, I don't know if there's any organisation in the world that we could say is exactly gender equal, because how do we define it? How do we determine it?”