Kilkenny and Dublin's senior camogie players joined in a sit-down protest before their Glen Dimplex championship match on Saturday and Parnell Park.
1st evidence of female inter-county players protest at Parnell Pk just now: @CamogieDublin & @KilkennyCamogie lined up with each other & then sat down collectively (to applause) for one minute before throw-in . Game then started#unitedforequality #womeninsport #womeninsportIRL pic.twitter.com/jBdwCbgupa
— clíona foley (@ponyyelof) June 24, 2023
Many other posts began to pop up on social media - under the hashtag #UnitedForEquality - showing that around 1200 camogie and football players from 40 different teams all over the country had also come together to join the protest before their respective matches.
The protest marked the start of the female inter-county players' protest actions following the GAA Players Association (GPA) published statement last week revealing that they would "play the remainder of the 2023 championship under protest".
#UnitedForEquality https://t.co/K8FQR94dli
— GPA (@gaelicplayers) June 25, 2023
Last week Monday, about two dozen players, representing both codes and all counties, held a joint press conference to voice their dissatisfaction regarding the absence of a player charter that addresses fundamental needs such as medical assistance and expenses. This charter has yet to be implemented by the governing bodies of camogie and Gaelic football.
On Saturday just before the national anthem started, players from both sides mingled and lined up alongside each other in a show of strength across the pitch. Once finished, the players immediately sat down on the pitch together for up to a minute before taking their starting positions across the pitch.
The crowd responded with continuous applause, acknowledging the gesture, while Dublin camogie chairperson Karl O'Brien expressed solidarity in the match programme, stating, "Here in Dublin, we take pride in standing beside our players and endorsing this plea. Dublin camogie remains committed to providing our players with the utmost support they deserve."
2 codes, 20 games, 40 teams
1200 players, 1 message
We want @LadiesFootball @OfficialCamogie & @officialgaa to provide minimum, basic standards of care and welfare for female players for 2024 & beyond.
Is that too much to ask?#UnitedForEquality pic.twitter.com/Nuu6sr6RHA— GPA (@gaelicplayers) June 25, 2023
