The GPA and WGPA will undergo a rebranding after clearing the way for a merger of the two bodies earlier this week.
The respective memberships voted overwhelmingly in favour of a combined representative body for male and female inter-county players on Monday night and the transition to a single organisation will be completed in the new year.
“As part of our work in early 2021 we will be rebranding the new association,” confirmed WGPA chairperson and Carlow footballer Maria Kinsella. “That will be conducted with experts.
“The name of the new association will be defined by our transitional NEC (national executive committee) and that will all be worked through in early 2021.”
The merger should help to give female players more clout as they push for Government grant funding and expenses equal to that of their male counterparts.
Kinsella explained: “On the WGPA ‘Level The Field’ report which we launched in October, it highlighted that 93% of female players don’t get travel expenses.
“That’s a key strategic aim but it’s going to be up to the new NEC to define what the new strategy us for both male and female players for this new combined association. Would I expect that to feature in it? Yes, I would but it’s up to the NEC to define that strategy.”
Should the grant funding for camogie players and ladies footballers be increased and brought in line with that of hurlers and male footballers, the money could be funnelled, initially at least, towards mileage and similar expenses where female players are currently missing out.
Kinsella added: “Currently it stands at €700,000 for female inter-county players in 2019 and €3m for male players. That's quite a big gap.
“We're talking 77% of a funding difference there. What Sport Ireland has committed to is an independent review of that and we're looking forward to participating in it.”
GPA chief executive Paul Flynn is hopeful the merger will help to accelerate a coming together of the GAA, Camogie Association and LGFA under one umbrella.
He said: “We have stated in our new constitution that it is about promoting gender equality and working towards equal investment.
“That remains one of our objects and one of our goals and I do feel it would be a very positive step for society and also for sport if the GAA were to come together, three Associations in one, but this is about a positive step in our journey and what is in our control.”
