Rocky road to integration may be closing on destination

In 2003, a pilot scheme aimed at establishing the best framework for the integration of the the ladies football and camogie associations into the GAA was announced at Croke Park.

It was agreed that eight counties would partake in the scheme to highlight the various challenges in integrating the three bodies.

Then GAA president Sean McCague announced the move, stating: "The potential of all three associations and their effectiveness in promoting Gaelic games can best be achieved through a concerted effort on all our parts."

Turns out there were many challenges to unity, however.

While the three bodies shared common goals and ideals, and integration had effectively already taken place in plenty of clubs around the country, there were just as many perceived obstacles to a full amalgamation happening.

When he took over as GAA president, Seán Kelly made sure he himself was on the Integration Work Group to monitor the unification of camogie and ladies' football under the Croke Park umbrella.

At an official function soon after, it was stated that ladies’ football and camogie associations both expected to be fully integrated into the GAA by 2007.

Yet, no matter how hard various presidents and strategic committees tried, the will to unite was not always there, nor was the road always smooth.

Much progress was made in several counties, however, including Tyrone, Limerick and Wexford where the county boards linked closely with both camogie and ladies’ football. And there was a thought that some tweaking could make a big difference.

Speaking to the Oireachtas Committee for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Seán Kelly reported that the door was open for formal integration - though it was vital the two associations remained autonomous at national