# President of the Gaelic Athletic Association

The president of the Gaelic Athletic Association (Irish: Uachtarán Cumann Lúthchleas Gael) 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.
The current president is Jarlath Burns, who assumed office on 24 February 2024.

## Selection

The president is elected at Annual Congress. They then serve as Uachtarán-Tofa for one year.

## History

In 1981, John Kerry O'Donnell became the first overseas member of the GAA to run for president.
In 2020, Larry McCarthy became the first overseas member of the GAA to be elected as president.

## List of presidents of the Gaelic Athletic Association

| No. | Name (birth–death) | Name in Irish | Term of office | 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 – 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) | 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) | 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) | 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) | 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 | 2009 | Kilkenny |
| 36. | Christy Cooney (born 1952) | Críostóir Ó Cuana | 2009 | 2012 | Cork |
| 37. | Liam O'Neill (born ?) | Liam Ó Néill | 2012 | 2015 | Laois |
| 38. | Aogán Ó Fearghail (born 1959) | Aogán Ó Fearghail | 2015 | 2018 | Cavan |
| 39. | John Horan (born 1958) | Seán Ó hÓráin | 2018 | 2021 | Dublin |
| 40 | Larry McCarthy (born 1954) | Labhrás Mac Carthaigh | 2021 | 2024 | New York |
| 41 | Jarlath Burns | Iarlaith Ó Broin | 2024 | 2027 | Armagh |

## Births and deaths

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).

## President's Awards

Seán Kelly introduced the President's Awards.
They are awarded annually.

## Player–presidents

Donal Keenan, Con Murphy, Paddy Buggy and Nickey Brennan all won All-Ireland medals as players before becoming president.
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.
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.
Seán McCague played junior club football for most of the time but at inter-county level he was a manager.
Jack Boothman played for the Blessington club.
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.
Aogán Ó Fearghail played locally for 12 years but won no championship games.
John Horan played for Na Fianna in his late twenties.
The highlight of Larry McCarthy's playing career was winning the 1977–78 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship with Thomond College.
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.
* ?, who resigned, served for ? days.
* Maurice Davin uniquely served for two terms.
* James Nowlan is the longest-serving.
* Pat Fanning was the former president to have survived the longest after serving.
* Michael Deering was the only president to die in office.
* Only twice have there been consecutive presidents from the same province: Joseph Stuart (1958) and Aodh Ó Broin (1961) of Leinster and Séamus Ó Riain (1967) and Pat Fanning (1970) of Munster.
* Leinster had three consecutive presidents from different counties (Kilkenny, Dublin, Wexford) between 1901 and 1926.
* Munster then had three consecutive presidents from different counties (Limerick, Tipperary, Cork) between 1926 and 1935.
* Five of the seven Ulster presidents came from north of the border. The other two were Seán McCague (Monaghan) and Aogán Ó Fearghail (Cavan).

### By county

* The following counties have had multiple presidents:
| # | County | Presidents |
| 4 | Cork | Christy Cooney, Michael Deering, Seán McCarthy, Con Murphy |
| 3 | Clare | Edward Bennet, Séamus Gardiner, Joseph Stuart |
| 3 | Galway | Peter Kelly, Joe McDonagh, Vincent O'Donoghue |
| 3 | Kilkenny | Nickey Brennan, Paddy Buggy, James Nowlan |
| 3 | Tipperary | Maurice Davin, Séamus Ó Riain, Seán Ryan |
| 2 | Antrim | Séamus McFerran, Pádraig MacNamee |
| 2 | Armagh | Alf Murray, Jarlath Burns |
| 2 | Dublin | John Horan, Daniel McCarthy |
| 2 | Laois | Bob O'Keeffe, Liam O'Neill |
| 2 | Limerick | Liam Clifford, Frank Dineen |
| 2 | Roscommon | Donal Keenan, Dan O'Rourke |
| 2 | Wicklow | Jack Boothman, Aodh Ó Broin |

### By province

| | 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) |