Merger of Gaelic games associations now 'inevitable', says camogie president Hilda Breslin

Camogie president Hilda Breslin believes the proposed amalgamation between her association, the GAA and Ladies Gaelic Football Association is now only a matter of time.

"I think it's inevitable," she told RTÉ Sport. "It’s a lot less 'if integration happens’. We are now talking about ‘when integration happens’ and how.

"It will happen. The timescale and how it happens… I would say sooner rather than later. Others may take a different view. The memberships will ultimately decide this but nothing suggests to me that the memberships in any of the associations won’t decide that integration is the way forward."

Breslin is a member of the Steering Group on Integration, which comprises the three association presidents and chief executives, and has been chaired by former President of Ireland Mary McAleese since last September.

Breslin expects the pace of what has often seemed a slow process to accelerate in the coming months.

"When people say nothing is happening, I’m not sure they realise Mary McAleese doesn’t do ‘nothing is happening’," she said.

"We’re working very hard at it. The first half of the year was listening to people, listening to county boards and seeing what’s going on the ground. The second half of the year, I hope people will hear a lot more from us and see a path forward.

"We have got to get it right. If it takes a little time to get it right, it’s probably better than doing it quickly and not ensuring that it provides for everybody in an equal and equitable association into the future.

"I would be disappointed if there wasn't a vote of some sort before I leave"

"We have seen the growth in women’s sport and that it has been underfunded for a number of years. That equity has got to be there. All of us in camogie and LGFA