The president of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael)[1] is the head of the Gaelic 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 in Ireland, 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 as Seán Kelly, who is now an MEP.
The president travels across Ireland and the world to promote the organisation and attend games; former President Nickey 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 as New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg along the way.[2]
The current president is Jarlath Burns, who assumed office on 24 February 2024.[3]
Selection
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2020)
The following presidents (listed chronologically from their term in office) are missing dates of birth and/or death in the list above: Edward Bennet (birth), Peter Kelly (birth), Frank Dineen (birth), Michael Deering (birth), James Nowlan (birth), Patrick Breen (birth/death), Seán Ryan (birth), Seán McCarthy (birth), Bob O'Keeffe (death), Pádraig MacNamee (birth/death), Séamus Gardiner (birth), Dan O'Rourke (birth), Aodh Ó Broin (birth), Donal Keenan (birth), Paddy McFlynn (birth), Peter Quinn (birth), Joe McDonagh (birth), Seán McCague (birth), Christy Cooney (birth), Liam O'Neill (birth), Aogán Ó Fearghail (birth), John Horan (birth), Larry McCarthy (birth).
John Dowling was with the Tullamore club as a dual player, but at inter-county level his involvement was more as a referee, officiating in five All-Ireland finals.[20]
Peter Quinn played for Teemore in Fermanagh, winning a Junior Football Championship. However, his only involvement with the Fermanagh seniors was in the Dr Lagan Cup and some challenge matches; he was never even included in a championship panel.[20]
Seán McCague played junior club football for most of the time but at inter-county level he was a manager.[20]
Jack Boothman played for the Blessington club.[20]
Liam O'Neill played with the Trumera club at junior level, though featured at senior level on hurling teams while studying at St Pat's and UCD.[20]
Aogán Ó Fearghail played locally for 12 years but won no championship games.[20]
John Horan played for Na Fianna in his late twenties.[20]
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.
Statistics
? was the oldest president to enter office, aged ?.
? was the oldest president to leave office, aged ?.
Seán Ryan was the youngest president to enter office, aged ?.
? was the youngest president to leave office, aged ?.
?, who died in office, had the shortest presidency of ? days.
^"Uachtarán". 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.
^Seán Moran (15 March 2010). "Death of former president". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 March 2010. He was the longest-surviving ex-president, having served in office between 1970 and 1973.
^Eugene McGee (15 January 2008). "Election year wheeling and dealing is about to begin". Irish Independent. Retrieved 14 March 2010. 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.
^"Jarlath Burns: I'm not bitter or even disappointed at losing GAA president's race". The Irish News. 2 March 2020. 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).
![[icon]](File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
.jpg)
