Dublin and Kilkenny camogie players have made headlines since their protest against wearing skorts in the Leinster semi-final was quashed by match officials.
Both sides stood on the pitch in shorts, which are currently not approved to be worn in competitive matches by the Camogie Association. Referee Ray Kelly informed team managers Tommy Shefflin and Gerry McQuaid that the match would be abandoned if the players did not change.
Since the story broke on Saturday, there have been calls from not just within the sport but also from politicians, stars from other sports and even comedians, for a change to the rule that has been in place since the change from skirts in in the 1950s.
Ex-Wexford captain and RTÉ Sunday Game pundit Ursula Jacob feels the skort debate is a "non-issue" and has vocalised her thoughts on the media attention surrounding the protest in the Leinster semi-final on social media.
"What I've been saying the last couple of days is I think, choice," Jacob explained to RTÉ.
"We get so many choices in our life and I suppose in relation to camogie as well, I feel there should be a choice now."
Jacob feels the GPA survey data showing that 83% of players want an option to choose to wear shorts, excludes a vital demographic, club players.
"I would like to gauge how club players are feeling too."
The experienced ex-player and pundit feels that the camogie community cannot afford to lose players to what she described as an "archaic" rule.
"If this current skort rule deters one player from playing, well that's one player too many. Our camogie community is small enough as it is."
'If this current skort rule deters one player from playing, then that is one too many,' says @ursulajacob @GameOn2FM @OfficialCamogie #rtesport pic.twitter.com/JqB3NnLVdp
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 6, 2025
Aoife Murray, nine-time All-Ireland winner with Cork says that she is still "pro-skort" and puts the onus on clothing manufacturers to create sports clothing that is more suitable for sportswomen.
Murray describes her own well-loved skort as a "comforter" due to how long she wore the same one and explains she found the change to a newer style in 2018 difficult, highlighting that player comfort is key.
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"I think if anybody saw the skirt I played in, they probably would definitely want to vote it out to be honest," Murray told RTÉ Sport.
"I actually think I played in the skirt I got in 2006 where it was like something out of, you know like a baby's comforter where the baby now is 20 years of age and they still have it and it's a little rag.
"That was probably what I had played in up until the end of 2018 simply because I could not change over to the new form of skorts.
"The one I had was comfortable, it was very much something that I was happy to wear."
The All-Star goalkeeper seems to welcome statements made by the Camogie Association that a working group to examine issues around the comfort, fit, design and performance of skorts is set up and testing will begin in mid-May but feels manufacturers need to do better.
"What I would hate to think is we lose something that was a part of the fundamental foundations of our sport, yes I know we can call it archaic." - Aoife Murray
"I would hate to think that we would allow some of the sports manufacturers to not do their job properly and that we don't hold them accountable for making clothes, in particular for female sport players and manufacturing it appropriately for the women and girls who are actually going to be playing in it."
As the skort debate begins to gather international attention, Murray laments the attention that "administrative" issues get over on-field action.
"It's such a pity that we consistently come back to off the field or administrative conversations and discussions.
"I think you're going to have some cracking games over the next couple of weekends.
"I cannot wait for all of the media that's been so passionate about this for the last few days. People are reposting and posting, I can't wait for them to open up the doors and have so much more promotion of camogie for the rest of the year if they are really that passionate about it.
"I think it should be a fantastic promotional year for what happens on the field."
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