Ger Ryan is unlikely to contest GAA Presidency again
By Shane Brophy
Templederry Kenyons clubman Ger Ryan was unsuccessful in his bid to become the next President of the GAA at annual Congress on Friday night.
That honour went to Wexford’s Derek Kent who succeed Jarlath Burns in twelve months’ time. His victory was decisive, elected on the first count, securing 169 of the 277 votes, well in excess of the quota required of 139. Ger Ryan secured 76 votes with Sligo’s John Murphy getting 32.
Ger Ryan was magnanimous in defeat, congratulating the new Uachtarain Tofa, saying: “This is a wonderful night for Derek Kent who I have known a long time. Personally, Derek, I sincerely congratulate you on a tremendous win. You are very strongly the choice of Congress and we all wish you well. You are somebody who has the ability, experience and courage to be a great Uachtarain.”
He added: “Democracy in our association is a wonderful thing and I think it is important that we have a contest so notwithstanding the result I am delighted to have participated in this contest.
“I want to thank everybody in this room, and those who I have met travelling around the country and further afield for the welcome, friendship, and challenge you presented.
“One thing I am certain of is that our Association is in a great space with great leaders at all levels, and we can look to the future with whatever challenges face us with great confidence.”
Derek Kent will become the third President from Wexford, and first since 1952, when he becomes the 42nd President of the GAA in February 2027, and was also extremely respectful of his two challengers for the position.
“I soldiered with you for the last three years, we drank an odd bottle during the last three years, and we had the odd difference of opinion for the last three years, but both gentlemen have the GAA at heart and are the real meaning of the GAA,” he said.
Ger Ryan was aiming to become the fourth GAA President from Tipp who have to go back to Moneygall’s Seamus O Riain from 1967 to 1970 as the last President from the Premier County along with the very first, Maurice Davin (1884-87) and Borrisokane’s Seamus Gardiner (1943-46).
There was a lot of confidence within the Ryan camp that despite Derek Kent hitting the campaign trail earlier, that his experience and connections throughout his lengthy service to the GAA would stand to him. Ger served as Chairperson of Munster GAA from 2022–2025 which also comes with a seat on the GAA’s management committee but his term concluded in January of last year with crucially Derek Kent able to remain on that body as he only finished as Leinster chairperson in recent weeks, and the connections he was able to retain and create proving important in the outcome.
Derek Kent already had a head-start over his two rivals with 71 votes among the twelve Leinster counties. Ger Ryan secured the support of six Munster counties and their 47 delegates (of which 8 were from Tipperary).
John Murphy looks to have secured the backing of all five Connacht counties and their 30 delegates, as well as London (5) considering their alliance with the Connacht Council.
It meant the 49 delegates from the nine Ulster counties as well as the overseas units would be key with Kent sweeping up the vast majority of those, including Antrim who have largely been a keen ally with Tipperary over the years. However, it was felt Kent’s commitment for the redevelopment of Casement Park swung their and many of the other Ulster delegates in his direction.
Ger Ryan intimated that he is unlikely to contest the GAA Presidency again in three years time despite still holding key roles in the association, including chairperson of the Central Referees Appointments Committee, and chairperson of Management Committee of Semple Stadium, where there was some encouraging news from Congress with Director of Finance Gerard Mulryan refering to the Thurles venue in his annual report which requires significant funding for reburbishment, including from “within the GAA itself,” so having it mentioned suggests it is high up the list of its priorities.
“I want to thank all the support I got from my club, my county, my family and friends which kept me going and sustained me throughout the campaign,” added Ger Ryan.
“With regard to both Derek Kent and John Murphy, it was extremely fair campaign on everybody’s part, there wasn’t a bad word said about anybody and that is the way it should be.”
Key Congress decisions
- A motion to dispense with the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship preliminary quarter-finals was passed, receiving 94 per cent support. It means the defeated provincial finalists and third placed teams in Munster and Leinster will progress straight to quarter finals, with the losing provincial finalists now permitted to host the quarter finals which based on 2025 would have seen Tipperary traveling to Galway rather than playing at a neutral venue.
- The addition of a dissent rule in hurling was also passed with the sliotar now to be advanced 30 metres for a player that is not the captain challenging the decision of a referee, while dissent from a member of the management team on the sideline will now see a free being awarded on the 20-metre line.
- The motion to move the dates of the All-Ireland senior hurling and football finals put back a couple of weeks was withdrawn but a motion from the GPA to limit the inter-county season to 30 competitive weekends, including all competitions, was passed. The only exception is an All-Ireland final replay, if required which extends the season to a 31st weekend.
- A motion to return the minor finals to curtain-raisers on All-Ireland senior final days was soundly defeated but replays will now be permitted in senior provincial finals but it won’t impact the scheduling of competitions as there is currently a two week gap between a provincial final and the next competitive game for both sides in both hurling and football.