The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Women's Gaelic Players Association (WGPA) will next week discuss the possibility of merging the players bodies into one combined association.
Separate Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) will take place on Monday, 14 December, where the purpose will be to discuss taking the necessary steps to allow for the formal coming together of the two associations.
Voting on motions that would allow for this to happen will take place.
The move comes after motions were approved at the GPA’s and the WGPA’s Annual General Meetings in 2019 to formalise the positive relationship that currently exists between the two player bodies.
Players from both associations will now make the final decision on whether or not they want to become part of one new players’ association.
The GPA was founded in 1999 as a representative body for men's senior inter-county players.
Following several years of tension over a perceived threat to the Gaelic Athletic Association's amateur ethos, the GAA officially recognised the GPA in 2010 and now diverts 15% of its commercial revenue to the body.
That money made up almost 40% of the GPA's income in 2019, with the majority of expenditure going on player development programmes and player welfare.
The WGPA was founded in 2015 as a representative body for inter-county camogie and Ladies football players and recently led calls for equal government funding for female players.
Tax-payer funding to male players was €3m in 2019 compared to €700,000 for women's players.
A recent report by the WGPA found that 93% of female inter-county footballers or hurlers received no travel expenses at all, with their spending of fuel averaging €55 per week.
The Ladies Gaelic Football Association subsequently announced it had already agreed to reimburse players for match-day costs this championship season.
