For nine-time All-Ireland football winner Valerie Mulcahy, the establishment of a Women's Gaelic Players' Association (WGPA) marks another small step for women, and potentially another giant leap for women's sport.
The Cork star was among several high profile football and camogie players present in Dublin for the official launch of the WGPA, which just like the male equivalent, the GPA, is designed to address the demands of the modern game.
Although it has yet to receive official recognition from either the camogie or women’s football associations, the WGPA has received initial funding from the GPA, with the hope of receiving central and some Government funding in the future.
For Mulcahy, the launch also coincided with her recent decision to speak publicly on her sexuality, and with that become the first high-profile female GAA player to come out as gay. Mulcahy featured in the Donal Óg Cusack documentary, screened earlier this week, Coming Out Of The Curve.
‘Positive reaction’
“It’s all been very positive reaction, and I’m delighted with that,” said Mulcahy. “It wasn’t actually a big decision for me, because I’ve been comfortable and out for many years, and I think it was just maybe more of a deal to the bigger public.
“Anyone who knows me knows that my sexual orientation is not everything about me. They know who I am, they know I’m an athlete and that I’d rather they’d talk about my skills and football expertise. We’re female, we’re athletes, and it’s just one small part of us. For some people it’s important, but it doesn’t necessarily have to define everything that I am.”
Mulcahy also spoke in more general terms of how far women’s sport has come in Ireland, and the need for an association, such as the WGPA, to help put it on a par with male sports.
“I wouldn’t like to draw comparisons,” she said. “I think we’re separate and we understand there are differences. I just think it’s about us getting the best out of ourselves, and helping women to progress in the sports that they love.
“I’ve played football with Cork since I was 17, and we’re lucky now that we’ve a good structure in place, with a very experienced manager, and good backing from our county board. But that did take time. There was a process there and we learned to ask, and in asking we were able to receive help.
Voices of change
“The whole idea of the WGPA is to find out what issues are there, and seek to improve them, rather than go home in the car giving out. It’s there now to actually make a difference, and try and use our voices to make a change.”
It is hoped the WGPA will ultimately result in standard expenses and other support structures currently in place for the men’s senior intercounty game, although Mulcahy admitted that was probably some distance away.
“It does still cost me to play for Cork, but that’s my choice, and I think everyone accepts that when they’re playing. So right now, I don’t think it’s about expenses. Things can improve, yeah, but it’s more to do with being sure players are happy and getting the best out of ourselves.”
Acting as WGPA chairperson is Aoife Lane, former minor camogie player with Galway, and daughter of former Galway hurler and manager Noel Lane. She has identified several immediate priorities for the WGPA, based on a recent survey of senior intercounty players in both women's football and camogie.
Concerns raised
“We’ve also had a lot discussion around a table, and some of the concerns raised there were the most challenging ones. Like I’ve heard a couple of cases where players pay to train at a county facility and that really struck me. It’s not acceptable and we can’t let it happen.
“There are cases as well of people being injured and feeling isolated and let down. That’s upsetting on another level because they are people who give a lot to their society.”
Lane also spoke about the importance of the WGPA being separate from the GPA, not merely another wing of it. “That would have been the easiest thing in the world. But what could have been done then? There would be no women’s voice. But there are totally different issues anyway, because we are starting from a whole different place. We have to work a whole lot harder to promote our games. Men are already up there, on a different level. So it’s much about being sensible.
“That includes the issue of funding. A lot of work went into getting those grants for males, I think they did a huge audit on the economic value of men to sport. We don’t have any of that data. You can’t be foolish and start demanding stuff without having the proper argument. If in time we feel we’re ready to go with that, we will.”
