I had my wooden spoon sunk deep into a mixing bowl – I was making porridge bread for somebody who cannot tolerate gluten – when Mary McAleese came on the radio.

I froze. I’ve listened to the former president speak out on many controversial topics over the years, but never before have I heard this tone of thinly veiled fury in her voice.

The former president had resigned in frustration from a body charged with the integration of the three Gaelic Games organisations – the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), and the Camogie Association (CA).

Just to be clear, given all the acronyms here, Dr McAleese has resigned as chairperson of the special Steering Group on Integration (SGI).

Formed in 2022, the SGI’s job was to align the memberships of the three organisations and match fixture schedules, combine injury benefit funds, and unify the staffing structures by 2027.

Makes complete sense.

But, it seems, when push came to shove (given that the target is next year) the boys wouldn’t play ball and now the whole thing lies in tatters.

Dr McAleese had walked off the stage. She made scathing remarks about the GAA, saying she now didn’t believe the integration of the three groups would happen under the current leadership.

It seems the final straw was........

© Evening Echo