skip to main content

Female inter-county players suspend protest after 'constructive' talks

Female inter-county players had been protesting over the past month
Female inter-county players had been protesting over the past month

Female inter-county players have suspended their protest for 2023 after securing commitments from the LGFA and Camogie Association on the development of a player charter for 2024, which will be backed by the GAA.

In a statement, the GPA hailed the agreement as a "landmark moment" for women's sport in Ireland.

The players' body announced that the framework had been agreed following what it described as "constructive" meetings with the LGFA and Camogie Association.

As part of the framework, the two bodies had agreed to collaborate with the GPA on the development of a player charter, in which they would request the GAA to help fund its implementation.

It also stipulates that any future approach for government funding made by the LGFA and Camogie Association would be undertaken jointly with the GPA.

In the statement, the GPA thanked the GAA for agreeing to help fund the initiative.

In June, inter-county women's Gaelic footballers and camogie players announced that they would be playing the 2023 season "under protest", demanding players charters for 2024 that set out minimum facilities and expenses for inter-county players.

As part of the protest, players had declined to participate in LGFA- and Camogie Association-organised media events for the closing stages of the respective All-Ireland championships.

Following today's announcement, the protest will end.

Players pictured after announcing their protest in June

Here is the full statement released by the GPA this evening.

"Following constructive meetings between the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and separately between the GPA and the Camogie Association over the course of the last week, a framework has been agreed to deliver a standardised charter for female inter-county players for 2024.

"Therefore, we the players, have decided to suspend our protest actions ahead of this weekend's matches.

"Commitments are now in place from the two National Governing Bodies (NGBs) as follows:

  • Agreement by the NGBs to collaborate with the GPA on the development of a Player Charter for 2024.
  • Agreement from the NGBs to request funding support from the GAA for the charter implementation, independent of the GPA.
  • Agreement that any approach (should it be necessary) to government for funding will be undertaken jointly with the GPA.

"All protest actions on match days are now suspended with immediate effect. Players will also return to taking part in media events organised by the Camogie Association and LGFA.

"We thank the Camogie Association and LGFA for their commitment to implementing a standardised player charter for 2024.

"We also thank the GAA for their commitment to support the initiative.

"This is a landmark moment in our games and for women’s sport in Ireland."

Read Next