Of all the many words spoken and typed about the camogie ‘skorts’ row, few will have the authority of those uttered by the remarkable June Ann Byrne.

Just a few weeks shy of her 92nd birthday, this Cobh-born woman is one of Ireland’s greatest ever tennis talents, and knows a thing or two about the shorts v skirts debate.

Who better to ask about the row that pitted Cork players against the camogie governing body, after it decreed they must all wear ‘skorts’, before relenting on Thursday and giving them the choice of shorts.

Where does no-nonsense June Ann stand on the issue?

“It’s crazy,” she replies instantly. “I don’t think anyone should have the right to tell me what to wear on a tennis court, as long as I’m not running around naked!

“The players are better off in shorts, a proper sports outfit, as skirts can blow up, but wear what is convenient and doesn’t embarrass you. It depends on your figure really.”

After a lifetime of playing and coaching, June Ann has strong opinions on sportswomen’s clothes.

“I wear what I like, I like to be fashionable, not vulgar. I like to dress properly. It should be the same with camogie, hockey, and all those sports.”

The lady is truly a force of nature, and a life-long sports competitor. She played hurling as a child during The Emergency - “we’d never heard of camogie, and I wore shorts when I hurled” - before starting at tennis aged 12... just the 80 years ago then.

During a successful career, she played at Wimbledon and the French Open, and Fred Perry - the........

© Evening Echo