The GAA’s Steering Group on Integration (SGI) has reiterated its commitment to continue building towards one association for all Gaelic games, but stopped short of offering a timeline on when this will be achieved.
The SGI held their first meeting under new chairperson, John Horan, in Croke Park on Wednesday and on the back of that meeting, has issued a statement laying out plans towards bringing the GAA, Ladies Gaelic Football Association and Camogie Association together under one umbrella.
That goal of integration was originally due to be completed by a deadline of April 2027, but that timeline has since been abandoned after the GAA requested time to pause and reflect on the process.
Former President of Ireland Dr Mary McAleese resigned as chairperson of the SGI in September, stating she was “dubious” that the amalgamation would successfully occur under the GAA’s current leadership.
McAleese cited changes to agreed timelines, a GAA management committee that she described as “less than impressive”, and her feeling that there were “people who are not entirely happy about the idea of including women in decision-making at the top level of Gaelic sports” who were holding the process back.
Today’s statement reveals that former GAA President Horan will lead a project team comprising the Ard-Stiúrthóirí of the three associations with the goal of “creating a clear vision with milestones for implementation” and that they will make presentations to the three associations during the early months of 2027.
That date is the only one mentioned in the statement, with no further milestones that point towards a concrete timeline for full integration.
The statement also claims that the new project team “will place a particular emphasis on keeping members, volunteers and key stakeholders informed as the programme progresses”.
Speaking after the meeting on Wednesday, chairperson Horan insisted that the desire and commitment for integration still exists.
He said: “There remains a strong and shared commitment across all three associations to continue progressing towards One Association. Significant work has already been completed and there is a clear recognition of the opportunities that greater integration presents for our members, clubs and communities.
“My priority as Chairperson is to ensure that momentum is maintained, that stakeholders are engaged in a meaningful way, and that there is clarity around the next steps as we continue this important journey together.”
The statement also said the group had agreed, in principle, to establish a new full-time role dedicated to “supporting clubs in adopting the One Club model”.