President of the Gaelic Athletic Association

The president of the Gaelic Athletic Association 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 Larry McCarthy, installed at the 2021 GAA Congress. Jarlath Burns, the former Armagh captain and TV Gaelic Football analyst is the new President-elect. Jarlath from Silverbridge in South Armagh is headteacher at St Paul's Bessbrook. He is a fluent Irish speaker and formerly worked on the Eames Bradley project which aimed to settle legacy issues relating to victims in Northern Ireland. Burns will take office as GAA president in 2024.