'Amalgamation terms need to be clear and fair' - Maureen O’Donnell

Maureen O’Donnell says it’s a significant step in the right direction as the GAA, LGFA and the Camogie bodies finally prepare to come under the one umbrella.

However, the former Donegal star has warned there is still some way to go before they hit their proposed integration date of 2027.

In the coming weeks, the annual congresses of all three bodies will be updated on the work now done on that amalgamation as well as plans for the next three years.

“With any kind of process, you have to have the right people with the right agenda behind the process to drive it,” said O’Donnell.

“The steps to push this over the line probably came from the survey they did which had over 30,000 people involved from the GAA, the LGFA, and the Camogie Association.

“The consensus that has come back is that this is going to be a real positive for women in sport. But we’re going to have to wait and see what the roadmap outlines and how they’ll move forward with this.”

While camogie president Hilda Breslin has referred to this as a ‘significant milestone’ O’Donnell - who represented Donegal for 15 seasons - says the LFGA should reserve judgment until it’s clear what exactly integration under the one GAA banner will eventually look like.

“With any process like this, there are going to be benefits but there are also going to be challenges.

“But I just think at this stage, for women in sport, it’s got to beneficial and kind to us because we’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” O’Donnell said.

“If you look at the women's soccer teams in this country, they all get the same benefits as the men get now and that started back in 2021, so, I think we’re still a bit behind.

“They say this will come into line in 2027, but it could take longer. The process has only started, there’s going to be a lot of meetings and a lot of work to do until then.”

O’Donnell highlights the current problem at a national level by zoning in on what has to change in her own county.

“In order for this to work, we need clarity on what this actually means and what integration under the GAA umbrella looks like.

“In Donegal, the top priority is the senior men’s county team. We all know that. If integration is going to work the county senior women’s team has to take as much priority.

“That means they get the same funding, they’re awarded the same pitches, they get the same opportunities in everything the men do.

“Like it or not, the women’s senior county team is way down the line compared to the men’s intercounty team. I don’t think that’s intentionally done, it’s just the mindset we have in this country and in society, and it’s very hard to change that.

“People all have the best intention to help this move forward until it’s time to actually put those plans into action.

Like, despite how good or how bad the men’s teams are doing, they have always taken precedence, whereas it seems the women’s team are only worthy of rowing in behind if they’re doing well.

“That’s not just Donegal, that’s every county in Ireland so it’s a mindset that needs to change in society too.”

Separately, O’Donnell highlights an area where the GAA will struggle dealing with and that is the financial returns the LGFA and Camogie generate compared to the men.

“You see the difficulty for the GAA now is, if they’re giving women the same funding as the men, the GAA know they’re going to have a problem getting that money back.

“The men will recoup that money back on provincial, All-Ireland semi-final and final gates when they sell out Croke Park and other venues. The women won’t sell out Croke Park and we know that,” said O’Donnell.

“I think this all comes down to money and at the minute there’s no clear path to what that area or split is going to look like.

“So it’s important that they figure that out and see what the word equality and integration looks like.

“The easy way to look at it is that women are putting in the same amount of effort, giving up the same amount of time, and sacrificing just as much as men, yet they’re not recognised on an equal level yet.”