Former President of Ireland Dr Mary McAleese has stepped down as independent chairperson of the Steering Group on Integration, the committee charged with overseeing the unification of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA), and the Camogie Association.

McAleese’s resignation came after the GAA leadership informed the steering group that it could not commit to the agreed timeline of completing full integration by 2027, instead requesting that the process be extended by up to five years. The three governing bodies had publicly committed in February 2024 to establishing a single organisation by April 2027 under a shared administrative framework.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 following her decision to step aside, McAleese described the GAA management committee as "lacking in vision" and expressed devastation at the impasse after four years of work. She stated that while GAA management raised financial concerns, solutions had been provided by the steering group. McAleese also voiced concerns that resistance remained among some officials regarding equal female representation in governance at the highest level of Gaelic games.

In an official statement, the GAA acknowledged McAleese’s departure and expressed gratitude for her leadership and contribution to the process. The GAA reiterated its commitment to forming a single association and stated that the next phase would involve distilling stakeholder feedback into a sequential workplan to be advanced in 2027.

Both the Camogie Association and the LGFA acknowledged McAleese’s work and affirmed their continued commitment to full integration. Camogie Association President Brian Molloy expressed disappointment over the delay to the 2027 deadline, stating his belief that the challenges facing integration were not insurmountable.