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Brian Molloy, president of the Camogie Association. Andrew Paton/INPHO

Camogie Association President says he 'wants to see choice' but decision on skorts is not his

Camogie Association president Brian Molloy says he ‘wants to see choice’ but does not have the authority to allow players to wear shorts before May 22 special congress.

CAMOGIE ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Brian Molloy has said he “wants to see choice” for players to wear shorts or skorts but stressed he is not in a position to make unilateral change to rules.

“There’s a process that I’ve got to go through. It’s bottom up, not top down, I don’t make these decisions, I have to go through a process,” Molloy said to RTÉ’s This Week.

On Thursday the Camogie Association announced a ‘special congress’ will be held later this month to consider motions addressing the ongoing skorts issue which has raged since last weekend when Dublin and Kilkenny players were told to change back into skorts or their game could not go ahead after they took to the pitch for a Leinster Championship match in shorts.

Yesterday, the Waterford and Cork teams yesterday released a joint-statement expressing their “bitter disappointment” with the decision to postpone yesterday’s Munster final.

The Munster Camogie cancelled the game in light of the planned protest by both teams against the wearing of skorts.

The Louth and Wicklow camogie teams have this evening released a joint statement through the GPA after they saw their Leinster Junior final became the latest game to be postponed before the 22 May special congress.

“We, the players scheduled to compete in today’s Leinster Final, are deeply disappointed by the postponement of the match,” the statement read. “Playing in a Leinster Final is a significant honour, and delaying it due to a protest over an outdated rule disregards the time and preparation players have invested.

“While we support the call for change, postponing games disrupts the sport and disrespects those ready to play. Players should have the freedom to wear what they feel most comfortable and confident in, enabling them to perform at their best.

“We urge congress on 22 May to recognise that change is needed and to ensure that player choice is a paramount consideration in any decision made.” 

Molloy said he and others have worked hard to resolve the issue.

“We proposed, first of all, that what we would do is bring forward the decision to Congress 26 rather than Congress 27. I had a very detailed conversation with the chief executive of the GPA and he welcomed that proposal and said he’d champion it,” Molloy said.

“We had a good conversation about how the two of us would then go around over the next six or seven month to the various counties to make sure the delegates understood the proposal and it would be an evidence-based process that we’d put in front of people.

“And then 24 hours later – and I’ve no issue with this whatsoever – the players indicated that wasn’t enough, they wanted it faster than that. So I went back to Ard Comhairle again. There’s a process that I’ve got to go through. It’s bottom up, not top down, I don’t make these decisions, I have to go through a process.”

derry-players-return-to-the-dressing-room Derry's players return to the dressing room in shorts today after being told their Ulster final with Antrim could not go ahead unless players were wearing shorts. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO

Molloy said the Munster Council made the call to postpone their provincial final, and he “100%” supported the decision.

“I don’t have the authority to tell a referee to put a rule to one side . . . as the president I absolutely have no choice but to operate within the actual rules,” he said.

“If someone else decides to do something different, there isn’t a huge amount that I can do about that. I couldn’t tell the referee to ignore a rule, and if I did, he would have to ignore me.”

Molloy said that when it comes to official votes he “can’t tell a delegate how to vote” but added “I can and have told delegates that they are to ask their players.”

He said the process to resolve the skorts issue could “possibly” have been done faster but that a lot of progress had been made in a short amount of time. 

“You have to remember, this landed on my desk less than two weeks ago, and in less than two weeks, I will have a special congress – which is the only way I can have the rule changed.

“So in total elapsed time, less than one month after it landed on my desk, I will have a special congress fixing this issue for good in accordance with rules, without any sidestepping of rules, doing it properly in line with our association and the democratic views of our association. I can’t overrule the democratic processes in our association.”

Molloy said he cannot influence anybody’s vote in a democratic process but, from his own perspective, he “wants to see choice”. 

Written by Ronan Early and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.

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    Mute Bri Lye
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    Wed 12:27 PM

    One of the very good ones…RIP

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    Mute James Casey
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    Wed 1:45 PM

    @Bri Lye: lots of good ones infairness. Rip

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    Mute Paul O'Mahoney
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    Wed 3:32 PM

    @Bri Lye: The world needs more people like him.

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    Mute Dominic Leleu
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    Wed 4:33 PM

    @Paul O’Mahoney: did more for people that all the dail combined. rip

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    Mute Dale Voinz
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    Wed 1:51 PM

    I used their services while homeless. Not only are they the best homeless service in the country, but they’re also the only one that doesn’t question why you need help nor even ask for donations. The food is also the best you can get.

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    Mute James Carolan
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    Wed 2:19 PM

    @Dale Voinz: Glad you no longer need their services

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    Mute James Casey
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    Wed 1:46 PM

    What a great person to feed so many poor if we had more it would be great. May he rest in peace

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    Mute FoxyBoiiYT
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    Wed 1:47 PM

    RIP, a great man. Talked the yalk and walked the walk.

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    Mute R kelly
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    Wed 2:08 PM

    A really genuine caring man… helped thousands without judgement….rest in peace

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    Mute Declan O'Brien
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    Wed 2:22 PM

    A beacon of light for those in the darkness of homelessness and poverty. May he rest in peace.

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    Mute nollaig o cellaigh
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    Wed 2:26 PM

    Can he be fast tracked into Sainthood?

    RIP Brother Kevin and thank you for all you did and helped over the years

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    Mute Matt D
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    Wed 2:44 PM

    Had the pleasure of meeting Brother Kevin several times over the years. I’m genuinely saddened to learn of his death. He was such a selfless man. Personally I fond it ironic all of our esteemed politicians falling over themselves to pay tribute to a man who dedicated his life to alleviate the suffering of people that they & their policies helped to cause in no short measure.

    Rest in Peace Brother Kevin

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Wed 2:49 PM

    @Matt D: Dragging politics into it not necessarily.

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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Wed 3:29 PM

    @Matt D: Using his death as a political football is a shamelessly disrespectful act.

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    Mute The facts
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    Wed 3:32 PM

    @thomas molloy: it actually is.
    The likes of Harris speaking about him when he’s been part of the government that has drastically sent more and more people into poverty should absolutely be called out.

    I despise religion but if we had more human beings like him the world would be a far better place.

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    Mute RubaDub
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    Wed 3:44 PM

    @The facts: it’s actually not, and I think Brother Kevin would agree.not every article has to bring hate and vile into it. There’s a time and a place.

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    Mute Matt D
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    Wed 4:33 PM

    @Sun Rise: Having met the man several times in my life I can assure you I know he wouldn’t be bothered. I in no way disrespected Brother Kevins memory or his legacy & I stand over what I said.

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    Mute JP
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    Wed 2:51 PM

    In one’s own way imitate him.
    RIP Bro Kevin.

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    Mute Dog Tired
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    Wed 2:16 PM

    Lord rest him. A good man. A pity politians of all types don’t show even a sliver of Brother Crowleys humanity.

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    Mute Veronica Conway
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    Wed 2:07 PM

    RIP Brother Kevin

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    Mute Gerry Kelly
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    Wed 2:19 PM

    “In all things you do preach the gospel; and if necessary use words.” (St. Francis of Assisi)
    Brother Kevin lived that mantra for decades. I trust Dubliners will give this great Cork man a great send off at his funeral.
    We may never see his like again.

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    Mute Deano74
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    Wed 4:00 PM

    RIP brother Kevin,the true measure of a good person,someone who puts the needs of others before themselves.

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Wed 1:49 PM

    Requiescat in Pace

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    Mute JP Fox
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    Wed 2:22 PM

    RIP Brother Kevin.

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    Wed 3:59 PM

    Rest in heavenly peace. You deserve it after spending your life helping others

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    Mute Lance Taylor
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    Wed 2:15 PM

    A great man and a true saint. Rest in peace brother

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    Mute John McEvoy
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    Wed 5:25 PM

    I see the comments for the Census from 2022 is closed even though it was initially open. Why bother having a news page online if we’re not allowed to comment on the article?

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    Mute Áine G
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    Wed 5:30 PM

    A gentleman. Waiting for you in the fathers arms.

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    Wed 6:15 PM

    Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dilís.

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    Wed 10:08 PM

    A beautiful person with a welcoming smile and a huge heart. May he rest in Peace

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    Mute Child of Drague -Dey\Dem
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    Wed 9:06 PM

    A great, humble giver. Never a taker. In fairness, that’s some example for the rest of us. RIP.

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    Mute M K
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    Wed 11:04 PM

    REST IN PEACE BROTHER KEVIN

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    Mute Razor Mulligan
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    Thu 12:03 AM

    Left a great legacy behind R I.P

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