John Henry "Jack" Boothman (12 October 1935 – 10 May 2016)[1] was the 31stpresident of theGaelic Athletic Association (GAA) between 1994 and 1997. He was an active member of his localBlessington GAA club inCounty Wicklow.[2]
He was chairman of theLeinster Council from 1987 until 1989.[3]
He was elected as president of the Association and took up the position in 1994. Boothman championed the abolition ofRule 21, which debarred members of the British security forces from joining the GAA.[4]
However, Boothman opposed the opening up ofCroke Park to international soccer and rugby, feeling that it would be a "disastrous mistake" for the GAA to benefit competing sports so significantly.[2]
A member of theChurch of Ireland and past pupil ofThe King's Hospital, Dublin, Boothman was the firstProtestant president of the GAA.[5] Until his death at the age of 80 in 2016, he still held the position of President within his own local club.
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| Preceded by | President of the Gaelic Athletic Association 1994–1997 | Succeeded by |
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