All-Ireland winning Laois Camogie joint-manager says players ‘shown no respect’ by Laois GAA

The GAA, Camogie Association and Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) have committed to merging into a single organisation by 2027, but in Laois, the challenges around integration are already being felt.

Laois Camogie joint manager Pat Collier has voiced frustration at the lack of access to county facilities for his players, even during a season where they went on to win the All-Ireland Premier Junior title. 

"We’re always requesting, we’re always begging, but it’s just not happening," Collier told Prime Time in an episode that aired on RTÉ One on Tuesday, September 9.

He revealed that the team trained at the county’s Centre of Excellence only three times this year, and that Laois Hire O’Moore Park, the county ground, was made available for just one of their five home games.

"The team trains as hard as the men," he said, "but they’re definitely shown no respect. I know that no county board can give their ladies footballers or camogie players 50 per cent access overnight because they don’t have enough facilities, but they can surely start by giving 15 or 20 per cent."

"I’ve been at all Laois Camogie adult matches because my daughter was involved, often taking her along with other girls from the parish. For anyone who cares about GAA and sport, it’s hugely frustrating to get in the car after matches and see girls upset because of the way they’re being treated with facilities. I’ll be on this bus and wagon until the day I go to my grave. This integration has to happen."

"People talk about changing Gaelic Football rules and it is fantastic what they've done, but this is hundreds of times bigger. This is massive," Collier ended.

Laois GAA, in response, acknowledged the pressures it faces in accommodating county squads, league matches, and schools’ competitions. Chairperson PJ Kelly said the county board is often forced to seek alternative venues to meet demand.

"Laois GAA are fully supportive and committed to integration where we see our female counterparts having “equal status, standing and support” to that of men’s Gaelic football and hurling. However, I am also on record expressing my reservations around the timeline of 2027, together with reality and expectation as it currently presents. 

"Pat Collier’s reference to the lack of access to facilities in Laois GAA’s County grounds and adjoining Centre of Excellence (COE), is a point well-made. Reality at present however is that Laois GAA, in any given year cater for 12 different squads, from Academy squads up to and including senior intercounty teams. En masse, this accounts for circa 750 contact pitch time during the peak season. This in itself presents ongoing challenges regarding having sufficient playing pitches for Laois GAA’s own squads, so much so we have no choice but to seek alternative venues suitable to cater for some of these squads. 

"Similarly, the GAA season split in my view did bring about a distinct delineation between the Club and County game and may be perceived as fundamentally correct. However, this has made for a very congested season, and a very pressurised seven or eight months for players, officials and volunteers alike. Therefore, the availability of playing pitches, including County grounds, are also severely curtailed. 

"I do acknowledge frustrations regards getting access on one occasion from a possible five, however in the  interest of ‘fairness’, it must also be acknowledged that O’Moore Park / COE was not always available to Laois camogie requests owing to other fixtures as outlined hereunder: 

League 

Sat 22 Feb - League v Kildare (Laois v Wexford in Leinster MFL in CoE at same time)

Sat 08 March - League v Tyrone (Laois v Offaly in Leinster MFL Final in CoE at same time)

Sat 22 March - League v Roscommon (Laois v Dublin in Allianz Hurling League in OMP on same date) 

Championship 

Sat 24 May - PJHC v Wicklow in OMP 

Sat 14 June - PJHC v Louth (conceded) (Laois v Tipperary in All Ireland SHC Prel Q/final + All Ireland SFC  Rd 3 game in OMP) 

"In addition, both the COE and the County Grounds cater for circa 60-70 adult and juvenile league/championship semi-finals and finals annually, along with practice matches and Academy squad days.  Furthermore, such pitches facilitate Cumann na mBunscol blitz and finals days, which of course offers equal opportunities to both boys and girls. Post-primary games are also played here in the COE, be it representatives from Laois schools or indeed Provincial schools.  

"Moreover, all COE pitches are not always available to play on as it is necessary to close these in rotation for periods of time for necessary maintenance works, which does come at a substantial cost borne by Laois GAA annually. Hence, I fully appreciate and understand Pat’s viewpoint. 

"Notwithstanding this, Laois GAA are again committed to making such facilities available to Laois Camogie where feasible. For instance, we had a very constructive meeting with Laois Camogie County Board at the beginning of this year to ensure the Laois Senior Camogie County final was scheduled into the wider Laois  GAA 2025 fixtures calendar from the outset. Additionally, Laois GAA continue to upskill and train referees and coaches which have and will continue to be utilised by not only Laois GAA but indeed Laois Camogie on some occasions. 

"Furthermore, when Pat highlights such limitations, it gives greater credibility and standing to comments made recently by our Uachtarán Jarlath Burns', when he stated the full price of GAA integration will be in excess of €500 million. This is perhaps a conservative figure in my own opinion. Indeed, it also highlights my argument and probably an argument made by the wider GAA family, and that is the need and the urgency for further investment in greenfield sites, facilities etc. to cater for all needs. A commitment which the  Government of the day will have to support significantly along with Cumann Lúthchleas Gael and all other  stakeholders equally. 

"Continuing, I’m greatly encouraged to see Laois GAA have recently applied to host the 2026/27 National Feile,  and if successful this is something we in Laois GAA look forward to delivering on, together with our Camogie counterparts, again showing the aptitudes of integration at both club and County level. An occasion like this again epitomises volunteerism in the GAA. 

"In conclusion, congratulations are again bestowed on the Laois Junior Camogie team who recently won the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship, a mammoth achievement by all involved,  and a wonderful occasion which Laois GAA were happy to make a financial contribution to," the statement read.

The debate in Laois reflects the wider challenges across the country as the three associations move towards becoming one body. With 800,000 members, multiple county boards, and limited facilities, the scale of the task is immense.

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