Ger Ryan is aiming to become Tipp’s fourth GAA President

By Shane Brophy

The next President of the GAA will be determined at annual Congress at Croke Park this Friday night, with Templederry native Ger Ryan in with a strong chance of becoming Tipperary’s first Uachtarain Cumann Lúthchleas Gael in 56 years.

Moneygall’s Seamus O Riain from 1967 to 1970 was the last President from the Premier County with Ger Ryan aiming to become the fourth Tipp man to fill the prestigious role, along with the very first president Maurice Davin (1884-87) and Borrisokane’s Seamus Gardiner (1943-46)

“I am really positive about the feedback I have received and after that we’ll have to wait and see. I think I have a really good chance,” Ger Ryan said ahead to the Nenagh Guardian ahead of the vote where he is up against Derek Kent (Wexford) and John Murphy (Sligo) in the race to succeed Jarlath Burns from February 2027.

If the first round of voting goes along expected lines, Derek Kent should have a head-start over his rivals as there are 71 votes among the twelve Leinster counties, of which he is a former provincial chairperson. However, it is not guaranteed that counties vote along provincial lines although Ger Ryan is confident that he has the support of all six Munster counties and their 47 delegates (of which 8 are from Tipperary).

“Munster’s support is really important to me as will Leinster to Derek and Connacht to John. You are then looking at places like Ulster and the overseas votes as being significant in terms of determining the result,” Ryan said.

John Murphy would be hoping to get the backing of all five Connacht counties and their 30 delegates, as well as London (5) considering their alliance with the Connacht Council. It then leaves a lot of votes still to be secured with the magic number being 142 for a candidate to be successful, with the Ulster counties (49), overseas units (51) and the 24 individual voters representing units from colleges, schools, handball, trustees, provincial chairpersons, ex-GAA Presidents right up to President Jarlath Burns himself, set to be key.

“You are trying to pick up votes everywhere,” Ryan added with the vote to be done on a proportional representation (PR) system where if no candidate reaches 142 votes after the first round, the lowest candidate will be eliminated, so second preference votes could also be important in determining the winner.

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