Longford TD says GAA integration plan of working towards 2027 was a 'bit ambitious'
Local Fine Gael TD Micheál Carrigy made the comments after the former President of Ireland Mary McAleese resigned as independent chair of the Gaelic games integration committee last week and was highly critical of the GAA.
Longford TD Micheál Carrigy said he believes the GAA integration plan of joining together with the GFA and Camogie Association and working towards 2027 was a 'bit ambitious' but the criticism of the organisation was 'disappointing'.
Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese resigned as independent chair of the Gaelic games integration committee last week and there was significant media attention after she took a parting shot at the organisation.
She stepped down because she felt the slow progress was a 'betrayal of the women in our sporting cultures'.
Deputy Carrigy, the former Vice Chairperson of Longford GAA County Board and former Central Council representative who still involved with his own club Sean Connolly’s, said the public criticism of the GAA by Mrs McAleese was a setback.
"I think it's very disappointing, the criticism that she put out there publicly.
"But I suppose it's brought the team to the fore.
"This is what we need to look at and reassess the situation.
Fine Gael representative Carrigy said he believes the timeline was a 'bit too ambitious'.
"I would have engaged at the Oireachtas meetings on the number of times that the GAA were in and I am fully supportive of integration."
*To read the full story see next week's Longford Leader