| President of the Gaelic Athletic Association | |
|---|---|
| Uachtarán | |
 | |
| Gaelic Athletic Association Congress | |
| Member of | The Management Committee |
| Seat | Croke Park,Dublin,Ireland |
| Appointer | Elected by theGaelic Athletic Association Congress |
| Term length | Term of three years |
| Formation | 1884 |
| First holder | Maurice Davin |
| Website | Gaa's Uachtarán Webpage |
Thepresident of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish:Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael)[1] is the head of theGaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
The president holds office for three years. The role of president has existed since the foundation of the GAA. The president of the GAA is one of the leading figures in civil society inIreland, as the association has around one million members and is present in every parish in the country. The role of president involves representing the GAA in Ireland and across the world. Former presidents of the GAA have a key role within the GAA, sitting on the motions committee which rules if motions to the annual Congress are in order. They also have become known for other roles such asSeán Kelly, who was later elected as anMEP for theSouth constituency.
The president travels across Ireland and the world to promote the organisation and attend games; former PresidentNickey Brennan travelled 160,000 miles in Ireland alone during his three years as president, and visited Great Britain, Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and the Middle East on several occasions, meeting dignitaries such asNew York City mayorMichael Bloomberg along the way.[2]
Jarlath Burns assumed office as president on 24 February 2024.[3]
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The president is elected atAnnual Congress. They then serve asUachtarán-Tofa for one year.
| This sectionneeds expansion. You can help byadding to it.(June 2020) |
In 1981, John Kerry O'Donnell became the first overseas member of the GAA to run for president.[4]
In 2020,Larry McCarthy became the first overseas member of the GAA to be elected as president.[4]
| No. | Portrait | Name (birth–death) | Name in Irish | Term of office | County | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  | Maurice Davin (29 June 1842 – 27 January 1927) | Muiris Ó Daimhín | 1884 | 1887 |  Tipperary |
| 2. | Edward Bennet (1845 – 24 November 1910) | Éamonn Mac Beinéid | 1887 | 1888 |  Clare | |
| — | | Maurice Davin (29 June 1842 – 27 January 1927) (2nd term) | Muiris Ó Daimhín | 1888 | 1889 | Tipperary |
| 3. | Peter Kelly (1847 – 7 April 1908) | Peadar Ó Ceallaigh | 1889 | 1895 |  Galway | |
| 4. |  | Frank Dineen (1862 – 18 April 1916) | Proinsias Ó Duinnín | 1895 | 1898 |  Limerick |
| 5. | Michael Deering (1858 – 25 March 1901) | 1898 | 1901 |  Cork | ||
| 6. |  | James Nowlan (1862[citation needed] – June 1924) | Séamus Ó Nualláin | 1901 | 1921 |  Kilkenny |
| 7. |  | Daniel McCarthy (22 January 1883 – 2 March 1957) | Dónal Mac Cárthaigh | 1921 | 1924 |  Dublin |
| 8. | Patrick Breen (? – ?) | Pádraig Ó Braoin | 1924 | 1926 |  Wexford | |
| 9. | Liam Clifford (27 June 1876 – 24 February 1949) | Liam Mac Rifeartaigh | 1926 | 1928 | Limerick | |
| 10. | Seán Ryan (1895 – 7 March 1963) | Seán Ó Riain | 1928 | 1932 | Tipperary | |
| 11. | Seán McCarthy (1889 – 14 March 1974) | Seán Mac Cárthaigh | 1932 | 1935 | Cork | |
| 12. | Bob O'Keeffe (16 August 1880 – 1949) | Roibeard Ó Caoimh | 1935 | 1938 |  Laois | |
| 13. | Pádraig MacNamee (8 September 1896 - 28 March 1975) | Pádraig Mac Con Midhe | 1938 | 1943 |  Antrim | |
| 14. | Séamus Gardiner (1894 – 10 January 1976) | Séamas Gairnéir | 1943 | 1946 | Clare | |
| 15. | Daniel O'Rourke (? – 4 August 1968) | Dónal Ó Ruairc | 1946 | 1949 | Roscommon | |
| 16. | Michael Kehoe (22 June 1899 – 8 January 1977)[5] | Mícheál Mac Eochaidh | 1949 | 1952 | Wexford | |
| 17. | Vincent O'Donoghue (18 May 1900 – 29 May 1972) | Uinseann Ó Donnchú | 1952 | 1955 | Galway | |
| 18. | Séamus McFerran (10 January 1916 – 31 August 1978) | Séamus Mac Mhearáin | 1955 | 1958 | Antrim | |
| 19. | Joseph Stuart (9 June 1904 – 21 March 1980) | Seosamh Stíobhard | 1958 | 1961 | Clare | |
| 20. | Aodh Ó Broin (? – 3 July 1993)[6] | Aodh Ó Broin | 1961 | 1964 | Wicklow | |
| 21. | Alf Murray (25 December 1915 – 12 March 1999) | Alf Ó Muirí | 1964 | 1967 |  Armagh | |
| 22. | Séamus Ó Riain (2 April 1916 – 27 January 2007) | Séamus Ó Riain | 1967 | 1970 | Tipperary | |
| 23. | Pat Fanning (25 August 1918 – 14 March 2010) | Pádraig Ó Fainín | 1970 | 1973 |  Waterford | |
| 24. | Donal Keenan (1919 – 19 September 1990) | Donal Ó Cianáin | 1973 | 1976 | Roscommon | |
| 25. | Con Murphy (28 October 1922 – 29 April 2007) | Conchur Ó Murchú | 1976 | 1979 | Cork | |
| 26. | Paddy McFlynn (9 May 1918 – 24 September 2013) | Pádraig Mac Floinn | 1979 | 1982 |  Down | |
| 27. | Paddy Buggy (15 March 1929 – 15 May 2013) | Páidí Ó Bogaigh | 1982 | 1985 | Kilkenny | |
| 28. | Dr Mick Loftus (9 August 1929 - 22 April 2023) | Micheál Ó Lochláin | 1985 | 1988 |  Mayo | |
| 29. | John Dowling (18 November 1931 – 9 February 2002)[7] | Seán Ó Dúllaing | 1988 | 1991 |  Offaly | |
| 30. | Peter Quinn (born 1944) | Peadar Ó Coinn | 1991 | 1994 | Fermanagh | |
| 31. | Jack Boothman (12 October 1935 – 10 May 2016)[8] | Seáinín Bútman | 1994 | 1997 | Wicklow | |
| 32. | Joe McDonagh (1953 – 20 May 2016) | Seosamh Mac Donnchadha | 1997 | 2000 | Galway | |
| 33. | Seán McCague (1944 or 1945 – 24 November 2022) | Seán Mac Thaidhg | 2000 | 2003 | Monaghan | |
| 34. |  | Seán Kelly (born 26 April 1952) | Seán Ó Ceallaigh | 2003 | 2006 |  Kerry |
| 35. | Nickey Brennan (born 3 December 1953) | Nioclás Ó Braonáin | 2006[9] | 2009 | Kilkenny | |
| 36. | Christy Cooney (born 1952) | Críostóir Ó Cuana[10] | 2009[11] | 2012 | Cork | |
| 37. | Liam O'Neill (born ?) | Liam Ó Néill | 2012[12][13] | 2015 | Laois | |
| 38. | Aogán Ó Fearghail (born 1959) | Aogán Ó Fearghail | 2015[14] | 2018 | Cavan | |
| 39. | .jpg) | John Horan (born 1958) | Seán Ó hÓráin[15] | 2018[16] | 2021 | Dublin |
| 40 |  | Larry McCarthy (born 1954) | Labhrás Mac Carthaigh[17] | 2021 | 2024 |  New York |
| 41 | .jpg) | Jarlath Burns | Iarlaith Ó Broin[18] | 2024 | 2027 | Armagh |
Seán Kelly introduced the President's Awards.
They are awarded annually.[19][20]
Donal Keenan,Con Murphy,Paddy Buggy,Mick Loftus,Joe McDonagh andNickey Brennan all won All-Ireland medals as players before becoming president.
John Dowling was with theTullamore club as adual player, but at inter-county level his involvement was more as a referee, officiating in five All-Ireland finals.[21]
Peter Quinn played for Teemore in Fermanagh, winning a Junior Football Championship. However, his only involvement with theFermanagh seniors was in theDr Lagan Cup and some challenge matches; he was never even included in a championship panel.[21]
Seán McCague played junior club football for most of the time but at inter-county level he was amanager.[21]
Jack Boothman played for the Blessington club.[21]
Liam O'Neill played with theTrumera club at junior level, though featured at senior level on hurling teams while studying at St Pat's andUCD.[21]
Aogán Ó Fearghail played locally for 12 years but won no championship games.[21]
John Horan played forNa Fianna in his late twenties.[21]
The highlight of Larry McCarthy's playing career was winning the1977–78 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship with Thomond College.[21]
Jarlath Burns made his debut with the Armagh senior team in 1987. Over the course of the following thirteen seasons he had little success; however, the highlight of his career was captaining Armagh to an Ulster title in 1999. Burns also won two McKenna Cup titles.
| # | County | Presidents |
| 4 | Cork | Christy Cooney, Michael Deering,Seán McCarthy,Con Murphy |
| 3 | Clare | Edward Bennet,Séamus Gardiner, Joseph Stuart |
| Galway | Peter Kelly,Joe McDonagh, Vincent O'Donoghue | |
| Kilkenny | Nickey Brennan,Paddy Buggy,James Nowlan | |
| Tipperary | Maurice Davin, Séamus Ó Riain, Seán Ryan | |
| 2 | Antrim | Séamus McFerran, Pádraig MacNamee |
| Armagh | Alf Murray,Jarlath Burns | |
| Dublin | John Horan,Daniel McCarthy | |
| Laois | Bob O'Keeffe, Liam O'Neill | |
| Limerick | Liam Clifford, Frank Dineen | |
| Roscommon | Donal Keenan,Dan O'Rourke | |
| Wicklow | Jack Boothman, Aodh Ó Broin |
| Province | Presidents | Top county | Most recent | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Munster | 14 | Cork (4) | Christy Cooney (Cork) |
| 2 |  Leinster | 12 | Kilkenny (3) | John Horan (Dublin) |
| 3 |  Ulster | 8 | Antrim/Armagh (2) | Jarlath Burns (Armagh) |
| 4 |  Connacht | 6 | Galway (3) | Joe McDonagh (Galway) |
| 5 | Overseas | 1 | New York (1) | Larry McCarthy (New York) |
John Horan became the first native Dubliner to be elected Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael in almost 100 years when he assumed office in February of 2018.
He was the longest-surviving ex-president, having served in office between 1970 and 1973.
Of the last 20 GAA presidents seven were from Leinster, five each from Ulster and Munster and three from Connacht and on only two occasions did a province produce successive presidents. These were Dr Joe Stuart (1958) and Hugh Byrne (1961) from Leinster, and Seamus Ryan (1967) and Pat Fanning (1970) from Munster. Rather amazingly, Munster went 27 years without a president prior to Sean Kelly's election in 2003.
In the history of the GAA there have been just five presidents out of 40 from the six counties: Padraig McNamee and Seamus McFerran from Antrim, Alf Murray (Armagh), Down's Paddy McFlynn and, most recently, Fermanagh's Peter Quinn (1991–94).