REPRESENTATIVES of a campaign by GAA players calling for the establishment of a Citizen's Assembly on Irish unity are to meet with a delegation from the Republic's government this week.
GAA stars behind the grassroots movement, which urges the Republic to prepare for a border poll, have said they are "delighted" to have secured Tuesday's meeting in Belfast.
The Gaels Le Chéile (Gaels Together) campaign began in 2021 when GAA players from across the island were urged to sign a letter calling for the Irish government to create a Citizens Assembly that could achieve "consensus" on unity and to ensure the "democratic rights of all citizens are respected and protected, regardless of where they live on the island".
It was started by Antrim camogie All-Star Jane Adams and former Antrim senior football captain Paddy Cunningham, who initially gathered 3,000 signatures for a letter delivered to then-Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Since then, more than 15,000 Gaels have added their name to the campaign, including former Kerry footballer-turned TV pundit Tomás Ó Sé and Cork camogie All-Star Ashling Thompson.
Representatives from the campaign will now meet with the Irish government delegation in Belfast on Tuesday, with All-Ireland winning Tipperary hurler Timmy Hammersley and 2021 ladies football Player of the Year, Armagh's Aimee Mackin, among those attending.
Jane Adams said the meeting was confirmed after they received a letter from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
“This initiative has gained huge traction right across Ireland amongst all codes and at every level of the GAA," she said.
"We were delighted to receive a response from An Taoiseach and avail of the offer of a meeting with his representatives.”
Paddy Cunningham said the meeting was the "first step in our formal engagement with An Taoiseach and the Irish government".
He added: "We will discuss the views and ambitions of our signatories. We believe that detailed consideration about our shared future on the island of Ireland needs to be developed and that the government needs to plan for this.
"We will be asking the government to establish an all-island Citizens Assembly reflecting the views of citizens north and south to achieve maximum consensus on a way forward."
Signatures can be added to the letter online at www.gaelslettertotaoiseach.ie.
