GAA management committee ‘lacking in vision’, says Mary McAleese after stepping down as integration chair

Former president of Ireland Mary McAleese has launched a stinging criticism of the GAA’s leadership after taking the decision to step down as chairperson of the Steering Group on Integration.She charged the GAA’s management committee with being “less than impressive” and “lacking in vision”, adding that the decision to resign has left her “devastated”.McAleese had remained steadfast in her belief the integration of the GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association could be complete by the 2027 deadline, but scepticism around that time frame from some of the parties involved had caused friction.[ ‘Let’s just slow down’: plan to integrate Gaelic codes raises concernsOpens in new window ]“I’m absolutely devastated,” McAleese said on RTÉ Radio 1’s Inside Sport programme on Tuesday evening, just hours after her resignation.READ MORE“The (GAA management committee) was quite frankly less than impressive, and very disappointing to me as a long-term GAA supporter to meet a body that was so lacking in vision for the future of the GAA.“I hate to say this but I suspect that there are people who are not entirely happy about the idea of including women in decision-making at the top level of Gaelic sports.”She added that, in her opinion, there was a lack of leadership at the top level of the GAA.“Yesterday, I was shocked to hear the current president of the GAA say that in fact he didn’t really support the idea, having supported it up to now.”“I didn’t see leadership at the GAA management committee ... I had to remind them that integration was passed by Congress of the GAA and that they came to me to be the independent chair of their idea.“The leadership is not evident and the commitment to integration has evaporated.“I’m broken-hearted for the parents of young girls.”The GAA, LGFA and Camogie Association have been approached for comment.