NATIONAL: GAA urged to 'protect women's Gaelic Games' ahead of amalgamation with LGFA and Camogie Board

The new GAA steering group on transgender participation has been urged to protect women's Gaelic Games.

The call came from the organisations Gaels for Fair Play and The Countess.

Gaels for Fair Play is "a network of players, managers, coaches, volunteers and parents seeking fairness for women and girls in Gaelic Games seeking fairness for women and girls in Gaelic Games".

The Countess describes itself as a group of "progressive women and men from all walks of life" which "believes most reasonable people agree with the obvious issues in allowing men to identify into female spaces, sports, and services".

Danielle Loughrey of Gaels for Fair Play said: "In August, we learned a steering committee on transgender participation is being formed ahead of the amalgamation of the GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and the Camogie Association.

"Campaign groups including ourselves and The Countess have made submissions to Croke Park, urging them to consider fairness, safety and dignity for women and girls when they are drafting their policy," she added.

“For girls, fairness is the assurance that they are given the same opportunities as boys to participate, excel, and receive recognition. Safety refers not only to protection from physical harm but also from emotional, psychological, and social injury. It demands environments free from harassment, abuse, bullying, and neglect. The effects of unfairness and unsafe environments
are profound. Allowing boys to play against girls undermines fairness and safety," said Ms Loughrey, who also highlighted the "potential for different policies across the 32 Counties and around the world".

"With the UK Supreme Court ruling likely being implemented across Northern Ireland, you could have a situation where males are allowed to play on female teams in three out of nine counties in Ulster," she said.

"This will cause chaos in competitions like blitzes, Féile, club and intercounty championships and schools’ competitions. It is unworkable. The only way forward is to have an all-island approach that allows only those born female to enter LGFA,
Camogie, and women’s handball.”

Sorcha Nic Lochlainn, sport spokeswoman for The Countess said: “It is vital that players, coaches, volunteers and parents are aware of this policy development. The LGFA transgender inclusion policy was deliberately snuck in under a cloak of silence. That cannot happen again.

"We know the majority of those involved in sport do not want males to be included in the female category, even when those males identify as transgender. We urge people to contact Croke Park and make their own submissions. The LGFA betrayed women and girls. The new amalgamated organisation has the opportunity to rectify this and show that they value female players as much as male.”

“The amalgamation of the three Gaelic games organisations represents an opportunity to re-introduce fairness and
safety for women and girls in Ladies Football and Camogie. We are aware of boys and men playing across the country at various age groups in LGFA. In some cases, injuries have been caused. The female codes must be protected. This means trans-identified males must be made welcome in the male codes of Gaelic football, hurling, and handball.”

"Nationally and internationally, policies that allow men into women’s sport are being rolled back because evidence
is mounting that it is unfair and unsafe. There is no known mechanism to undo male athletic advantage. No hormone suppression or surgery can turn a male into a female. Thus, the female category must exclude all males. 

"We at the Countess, along with our colleagues in Gaels for Fair Play, are urging the GAA to listen to women and girls and protect the female
codes.”