Athletes playing the women’s variation of Irish hurling, camogie, are refusing to wear the mandatory skort. As a result, the Munster Senior Camogie final between Cork and Waterford has been postponed, according to news reports.
What the hell is hurling? And why are camogie athletes protesting this uniform piece? We’ll break it down.
When did this all kick off?
For years, players have voiced frustration over camogie’s mandatory skort rule, introduced in the 1990s. The issue came to a head on May 4, when Dublin and Kilkenny wore shorts in protest during their Leinster semi-final. Officials refused to start the match, forcing players to switch to the mandated skorts.
The protest sparked widespread debate, which has since led to postponed matches and scrutiny of the Camogie Association. Cork and Waterford players planned to wear shorts in the Munster Final on May 10, prompting the Munster Camogie Council to postpone the match less than 24 hours before kick-off.
What do the players have to say?
A significant majority of camogie players have expressed dissatisfaction with the compulsory wearing of skorts. A survey conducted by the Gaelic Players Association revealed that 83 percent of players prefer the option to wear shorts, citing reasons such as discomfort, impracticality, and concerns over modesty and performance. Players argue that the skort requirement is outdated and does not align with modern athletic standards.
In response to the postponement, the Cork and Waterford teams issued a joint statement on Saturday afternoon expressing their disappointment over the decision.
“As a united group of players, we want to express our bitter disappointment that today’s Munster Senior Camogie Final has been postponed. It shows scant regard for the preparation of players both physically and mentally to be ready for a provincial showpiece, to make this decision just 16 hours before the scheduled throw-in,” the statement said.
These developments have prompted the Camogie Association to schedule a Special Congress on May 22, 2025, to vote on allowing players to choose between wearing skorts or shorts, indicating a potential shift in uniform policy pending the outcome of the vote.
What is a skort?
A skort, like the name suggests, is a functional combination of a skirt with shorts attached underneath. In the western world, they originated in the late 1800s when cycling gained popularity amongst women, and have since become a tennis and women’s sport staple.
What is hurling?
Hurling is an Irish Gaelic stick-and-ball game, dating back to at least 1272 BC. The sport combines elements of lacrosse, field hockey, and baseball, where teams of 15 compete to score points on a grass pitch bookended by H-shaped goals. To win the game, a team must obtain the most points, by tossing the ball into the net or over the crossbar.
Camogie is the women’s variation, with the first recording game being in played in 1904, and only minor changes being made, such as a shorter stick. Also in 1904, the name was altered form the Gaelic camógaíocht to camogie.
Photo by Irish Defense Forces from Ireland found HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.
