Camogie Association could face Oireachtas grilling over skorts row

The chairman of the Oireachtas Sports Committee says he intends to invite the Camogie Association to the committee to deal with the skorts controversy.

Alan Kelly has described the rule which forces camogie players to wear skorts as ‘bananas’ and ‘outdated’. The matter came to a head on Saturday when the Leinster senior camogie semi-final between Kilkenny and Dublin was almost called off after the 30 players wore shorts instead of the obligatory skorts.

The game only went ahead after the players changed into skorts.

“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,” the Labour TD said in a statement.

“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.

“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.”