TD backs Kilkenny and Dublin players' skort protest - it's an 'own goal' by the Association

The move by the Camogie Association to enforce the wearing of skorts has been called 'outdated' and described as a sporting 'own goal' by a TD.

Labour's Alan Kelly, chairperson of the Oireachtas Sports Committee, has said he intends to invite the Association to a meeting to deal with the matter after Saturday's incident involving the Kilkenny and Dublin senior camogie teams.

The sides met in the Leinster semi-final in Dublin at the weekend, but when all 30 starting players took the field in shorts they were told by match officials to change into skorts or the game would be abandoned.

"It's bananas that in today’s day and age there are rules forcing our camogie players to wear skorts, rather than their preferred choice of clothing when playing matches," said Deputy Kelly.

"It beggars belief that at a time when we should be working to continue encouraging women and girls to participate in sport, we’d see an own goal like this from the Camogie Association.

"Only this week, the GPA published a study that found 70% of inter-county camogie players find skorts uncomfortable, and 83% of players at least want the right to choose between wearing skorts and shorts.

"We can’t continue to ignore this. No sportsperson should have to tog out in gear that’s unsuitable and uncomfortable.

"While a motion on this was defeated at last year’s congress, I think we need to move faster on the issue of skorts, before the next time delegates can vote on the uniform at congress in 2027.

"I intend to speak to my Committee colleagues about inviting the Camogie Association to the Oireachtas Sports committee on this issue. We simply shouldn’t still be forcing women to wear skorts in this day and age."