Longford native and new Camogie President Brian Molloy puts integration with GAA and LGFA to forefront of agenda

Longford native and new Camogie Association President Brian Molloy has put integration with the GAA and LGFA to the forefront of his agenda. 

The first male Uachtarán of the Camogie Association was ratified at the organisation’s annual Congress, which took place this weekend at the Westgrove Hotel in Clane, Co Kildare.

Son of Kathleen and the late Gerry Molloy, Rathcline, Lanesboro, Brian previously served as Connacht Camogie Chairperson, Galway County Board PRO and then Connacht Provincial Council PRO and representing his home club of Ballinderreen (where he was PRO and Co Board delegate) he will become the 32^nd President of the Association, succeeding outgoing Uachtarán, Hilda Breslin. 

Today was an historic and proud day for Brian Molloy, his wife Vivienne, daughters Ciara and Aisling, mother Kathleen, his extended family, his club Ballinderreen, his home town and parish of Lanesboro and Rathcline and all his friends.

Addressing Congress, Brian, the former student of St Mel's College from the Leaving Cert Class of 1988, thanked all of the attendees and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to outgoing Uachtarán, Hilda Breslin, for her outstanding dedication and exemplary leadership as Uachtarán of the Camogie Association over the past four years.

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He said, “This is a very special moment and indeed an historic moment for our Association, as I am the first male to be elected president of the Association in its 120 year history.

"I am very proud to take on this role and very grateful to have been given this opportunity to lead the Camogie Association. We have a fantastic game that is a fundamental part of Irish culture."

He believes a fully integrated Gaelic Games Association of Camogie, GAA and LGFA will be a stronger and more balanced association and urged Congress delegates to operate as if the three associations were already integrated. 

"Integration with the GAA and the LGFA has long been on the agenda within the Camogie Association. We have been consistently in favour of integration and steadfast in our belief that the new combined and fully integrated singular Gaelic Games Association will be a stronger, more balanced Association.

"There are some steps towards integration that we can start to take right now. It starts with all three associations adopting an integrated mindset and reflecting that in their decisions and engagements now. 

"We still tackle our day to day challenges but we tackle the challenges through the prism of how we would operate if we were already integrated."

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Hilda Breslin, outgoing Uachtarán of the Camogie Association, who addressed Congress for the final time, congratulated Brian Molloy. "I want to wish Brian all the best as we look to the future. Let’s value all our players for the part they will play in our Association now and beyond. Let’s make our clubs even more inclusive communities, building a foundation for lifelong enjoyment, participation and support for Camogie.”

Also in attendance at Congress were Jarlath Byrnes, Uachtarán of the GAA, Helen O’Rourke, CEO of the LGFA and Tom Parsons, CEO of the GPA.

Jarlath Byrnes, Uachtarán of the GAA address the Congress delegates and expressed his full support for the current move towards integration. 

He said, “I would like to pay tribute to the outgoing President Hilda Breslin for her commitment to the process. I look forward to working with the new President Brian Molloy in the near future. The new Hurling Development Committee will work hard to create new hurling and camogie clubs in areas where there is currently room for development. The GAA will ensure the association is ready to face the challenges and opportunities that full integration presents for gaelic games across the globe.”

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