| Post: | President |
| Body: | Gaelic Athletic Association |
| Native Name: | Uachtarán |
| Insigniasize: | 100px |
| Insigniacaption: | Logo of GAA |
| Incumbent: | Jarlath Burns |
| Incumbentsince: | 24 February 2024 |
| Department: | Gaelic Athletic Association Congress |
| Member Of: | The Management Committee |
| Seat: | Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland |
| Appointer Qualified: | Elected by the Gaelic Athletic Association Congress |
| Termlength: | Term of three years |
| Formation: | 1884 |
| Website: | Gaa's Uachtarán Webpage |
The president of the Gaelic Athletic Association (ga|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]
The president is elected at Annual Congress. They then serve as Uachtarán-Tofa for one year.
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.[4]
| Portrait | Name | Name in Irish | Term of office | County | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Maurice Davin | Muiris Ó Daimhín | 1884 | 1887 | Tipperary | |
| 2. | Edward Bennet | Éamonn Mac Beinéid | 1887 | 1888 | Clare | |
| Maurice Davin (2nd term) | Muiris Ó Daimhín | 1888 | 1889 | Tipperary | ||
| 3. | Peter Kelly | Peadar Ó Ceallaigh | 1889 | 1895 | Galway | |
| 4. | Frank Dineen | Proinsias Ó Duinnín | 1895 | 1898 | Limerick | |
| 5. | Michael Deering | 1898 | 1901 | Cork | ||
| 6. | James Nowlan | Séamus Ó Nualláin | 1901 | 1921 | Kilkenny | |
| 7. | Daniel McCarthy | Dónal Mac Cárthaigh | 1921 | 1924 | Dublin | |
| 8. | Patrick Breen | Pádraig Ó Braoin | 1924 | 1926 | Wexford | |
| 9. | Liam Clifford | Liam Mac Rifeartaigh | 1926 | 1928 | Limerick | |
| 10. | Seán Ryan | Seán Ó Riain | 1928 | 1932 | Tipperary | |
| 11. | Seán McCarthy | Seán Mac Cárthaigh | 1932 | 1935 | Cork | |
| 12. | Bob O'Keeffe | Roibeard Ó Caoimh | 1935 | 1938 | Laois | |
| 13. | Pádraig MacNamee | Pádraig Mac Con Midhe | 1938 | 1943 | Antrim | |
| 14. | Séamus Gardiner | Séamas Gairnéir | 1943 | 1946 | Clare | |
| 15. | Daniel O'Rourke | Dónal Ó Ruairc | 1946 | 1949 | Roscommon | |
| 16. | Michael Kehoe | Mícheál Mac Eochaidh | 1949 | 1952 | Wexford | |
| 17. | Vincent O'Donoghue | Uinseann Ó Donnchú | 1952 | 1955 | Galway | |
| 18. | Séamus McFerran | Séamus Mac Mhearáin | 1955 | 1958 | Antrim | |
| 19. | Joseph Stuart | Seosamh Stíobhard | 1958 | 1961 | Clare | |
| 20. | Aodh Ó Broin | Aodh Ó Broin | 1961 | 1964 | Wicklow | |
| 21. | Alf Murray | Alf Ó Muirí | 1964 | 1967 | Armagh | |
| 22. | Séamus Ó Riain | Séamus Ó Riain | 1967 | 1970 | Tipperary | |
| 23. | Pat Fanning | Pádraig Ó Fainín | 1970 | 1973 | Waterford | |
| 24. | Donal Keenan | Donal Ó Cianáin | 1973 | 1976 | Roscommon | |
| 25. | Con Murphy | Conchur Ó Murchú | 1976 | 1979 | Cork | |
| 26. | Paddy McFlynn | Pádraig Mac Floinn | 1979 | 1982 | Down | |
| 27. | Paddy Buggy | Páidí Ó Bogaigh | 1982 | 1985 | Kilkenny | |
| 28. | Dr Mick Loftus | Micheál Ó Lochláin | 1985 | 1988 | Mayo | |
| 29. | John Dowling | Seán Ó Dúllaing | 1988 | 1991 | Offaly | |
| 30. | Peter Quinn | Peadar Ó Coinn | 1991 | 1994 | Fermanagh | |
| 31. | Jack Boothman | Seáinín Bútman | 1994 | 1997 | Wicklow | |
| 32. | Joe McDonagh | Seosamh Mac Donnchadha | 1997 | 2000 | Galway | |
| 33. | Seán McCague | Seán Mac Thaidhg | 2000 | 2003 | Monaghan | |
| 34. | Seán Kelly | Seán Ó Ceallaigh | 2003 | 2006 | Kerry | |
| 35. | Nickey Brennan | Nioclás Ó Braonáin | 2006[5] | 2009 | Kilkenny | |
| 36. | Christy Cooney | Críostóir Ó Cuana[6] | 2009[7] | 2012 | Cork | |
| 37. | Liam O'Neill | Liam Ó Néill | 2012[8] [9] | 2015 | Laois | |
| 38. | Aogán Ó Fearghail | Aogán Ó Fearghail | 2015[10] | 2018 | Cavan | |
| 39. | John Horan | Seán Ó hÓráin[11] | 2018[12] | 2021 | Dublin | |
| 40 | Larry McCarthy | Labhrás Mac Carthaigh[13] | 2021 | 2024 | New York | |
| 41 | Jarlath Burns | Iarlaith Ó Broin | 2024 | 2027 | Armagh | |
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).
Seán Kelly introduced the President's Awards.
They are awarded annually.[14] [15]
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.[16]
Seán McCague played junior club football for most of the time but at inter-county level he was a manager.[16]
Jack Boothman played for the Blessington club.[16]
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.[16]
Aogán Ó Fearghail played locally for 12 years but won no championship games.[16]
John Horan played for Na Fianna in his late twenties.[16]
The highlight of Larry McCarthy's playing career was winning the 1977–78 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship with Thomond College.[16]
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) |