History was made on Monday night with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Women’s Gaelic Players Association (WGPA) inter-county players voting to combine the two associations into a single body some 4,000 strong.
Votes were passed at the EMGs of both associations with the first meeting of the new body held straight afterwards.
“This evening at Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) of both the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) and the Women’s Gaelic Players Association (WGPA), inter-county players voted overwhelmingly to combine the two associations into one 4,000-member players’ association.”
“The first meeting of the newly combined association was held post the respective EGMs. A Transitional National Executive Committee (TNEC) was established at this meeting.”
“The TNEC will have its first meeting in January where Executive Officers will be elected including co-chairs. The TNEC will oversee the direction and strategy until the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Q2 of 2021.”
“At the 2021 AGM, a new NEC will be elected which will proportionally represent the association’s female and male members.”
“As a result of tonight’s decision, changes will also be made to the composition of the GPA DAC Board of Directors, with the desire to achieve a 50:50 gender balance. The current chair Professor Brían MacCraith will lead this process.”
About the GPA, WGPA
The WGPA tends to the needs of registered plays in ladies Gaelic football and camogie. The association was launched in January 2015 to represent the interests of inter-county players in both codes with over 1,350 members. They operate a 24/7 support line and provide third level scholarships, leadership programmes, personal coaching, career guidance and a membership affinity scheme.
Similarly, the GPA is the representative body for men’s’ inter-county hurling and football, though is on the go since 1999. The GPA exists to assist players – current and former – lead a ‘healthy and prosperous life during and post their inter-county career’.
