Camogie skorts row 'absolutely ludicrous' - Ward

Ward will name her Republic of Ireland squad next week before a Nations League double-header against Turkey and Slovenia

The ongoing controversy surrounding wearing skorts while playing camogie is "absolutely ludicrous", says Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward.

Camogie is the female equivalent of hurling, a team-based field game played with a wooden stick called a hurl or hurley and a ball called a sliotar.

The current rules governing playing gear for camogie state players must wear either a skirt, skort (a pair of shorts with an overlapping fabric panel which resembles a skirt) or a divided skirt.

Players have protested in recent weeks as they want a change to this rule to have the choice to wear shorts, which are allowed in gaelic football.

Speaking to RTE, Ward expressed her disappointment at the handling of the situation by the Camogie Association.

"It's absolutely ludicrous," she said.

"I'll be honest, some of the [backroom] staff shared it a couple of weeks ago when it first happened, and I actually did say, 'is this some sort of joke?'," adding it was amazing "to even be having these conversations in 2025".

'It's an old mentality'

Derry players were forced to change into skorts before their Ulster final against Antrim on Sunday

The Kilkenny and Dublin teams were forced to change into skorts before their Leinster Championship semi-final could go ahead earlier this month.

The Munster final between Cork and Waterford was postponed this weekend after both sets of players confirmed their intention to wear shorts.

Derry players were told to change from shorts into skorts before their Ulster Senior Final defeat by Antrim on Sunday.

A Gaelic Athletic Association Special Congress will take place on 22 May to vote on the issue, which if passed would give players the option to wear shorts from 24 May.

A recent Gaelic Players Association survey highlighted how 70% of players experienced discomfort while wearing the skort, and that 83% of players wanted an option to choose to wear shorts.

Ward believes that those at the head of the Camogie Association do not currently have the players' best interests at heart.

"It's an old mentality though, isn't it? There are still some countries that have that old mentality towards women. It's crazy," she added.

"It did blow my mind because I didn't believe that anyone in this country could have that mindset that women had to wear a certain, or couldn't wear a certain short, or skort.

"One hundred per cent [the current rule does not suit players] but what does that say about the people at the top? Should they really be there or should they probably move on and pass the baton to a younger generation."