The Cork and Waterford senior camogie panels have said they will tog out wearing shorts in Saturday's Munster final.
In a statement issued through the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), the players said: "We look forward to representing ourselves, our clubs, our counties, and our supporters in Saturday's Munster final.
"We will not be making any further media comment ahead of the game as our concentration is focussed on putting on our best possible performance.
"We will be at The Ragg in Tipperary with the intention of getting the better of each other on the field of play.
"We will be togged out wearing shorts.
"That is our choice."
Joint statement on behalf of the @CorkCamogie and @deisecamogie Senior Panels pic.twitter.com/pyrMdktDUi
— GPA (@gaelicplayers) May 7, 2025
Earlier, Cork camogie player Ashling Thompson said if they are asked to change to skorts, they will refuse to do so, even if it risks the game being abandoned.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News at One, Ms Thompson said: "What we’re going to do is wear shorts and if we’re asked to return to the dressing room, we won’t," the six-time All-Ireland winner confirmed.
"If that means abandoning the game and handing over the Munster title to Waterford, that’s what we’ll do.
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"It’s not about us versus the association. It’s standing up for what’s right," she added.
Noting that a 2024 player survey voted 83% in favour of having a choice to wear shorts or skorts, Ms Thompson said that the players' voice is not being heard by the Camogie Association.
"We’re just asking to be heard and to have a choice in what we want to wear and how we represent our counties and our clubs.
"It’s about respect and modernising a game that we all love.
"The voices of the people playing it every day are the ones that need to be heard and need to be part of that evolution.
"I just hope that it opens the door for more honest conversations and for decisions that reflect what the players need.
"We’re not asking to get rid of skorts completely; it’s to have a choice in what we wear.
"A lot of girls are just not comfortable wearing a skort in general," she said.
Ms Thompson said she did not personally support the suggestion today that a motion will be brought to the Camogie Association Annual Congress in 2026 to address the issue.
It is understood that the president of the association Brian Molloy, with support and approval from the Ard Chomhairle of the Camogie Association, will bring forward a motion to be discussed before the association's Annual Congress in 2026 which will possibly give players the freedom of choice to wear skorts or shorts.
"I wouldn’t personally (favour that). We’re really not being heard if we have to wait until next year. It feels like a punishment," Ms Thompson said.
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Waterford camogie player, Niamh Rockett, said that the Waterford team had made the "unanimous decision" to wear shorts on Saturday and will play the match even if the association officially cancels it.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime programme, Ms Rockett said: "Waterford Camogie has only been in two Munster finals in our whole history, and we’ve only got one piece of silverware in the last ten years, so for us to be willing to abandon that game shows our stance on it and how passionate we are feeling about having the choice to wear shorts or skorts," she said.
"There was an email that went out from Munster Camogie during the week to say that if the girls wear shorts... the game will be abandoned, and it’s a bit of a face-off at the moment between Munster Camogie and the players of who’s going to call each other’s bluff."
Ms Rockett said that Waterford and Cork camogie teams are both "firmly of the stance" that they will not leave the pitch, even if instructed to do so for wearing shorts instead of skorts.
Meanwhile, the Dublin camogie county board has told its referees to allow games to proceed if players choose to wear shorts instead of skorts.
On Tuesday evening several senior Dublin clubs took to the pitch wearing shorts, as was first reported by the Irish Times.
Dublin camogie chairperson Karl O'Brien today confirmed to RTÉ Sport that the county's referees have been instructed to let players wear shorts.
He said Dublin camogie are fully aware it is a breach of the rules but has asked for "common sense" to prevail as the backlash continues to grow.
Sinn Féin Senator, Maria McCormack, has said that it is "not acceptable in this day and age" that camogie players do not have the choice to wear shorts rather than skorts for matches.
Senator McCormack was one of several senators who wore shorts to the chamber today in solidarity with camogie players.
"We're trying to grow this sport, and if we truly want to grow camogie, to keep young girls in sport, we have to help them feel respected and empowered," she said on RTÉ’s Drivetime programme.
"It’s not on the players, the GPA (Gaelic Players Association) has been great, the players have taken a protest, and the Camogie Association need to listen to this protest and needs to hear the women."
Senator McCormack said that exceptional circumstances should be brought forward for a vote on the matter to happen this year, rather than having to wait until 2026.
