Four Ulster Gaels give their thoughts on the appointment of Jarlath Burns as GAA President

Conor Laverty

“I have known Jarlath a long time and he’s a brilliant Gael. What he has done as principal of St Paul’s High School in Bessbrook is incredible and I think he’ll be a brilliant President for the GAA.

“The culture that he’ll bring and the standards that he will drive within the Association, we’re all really looking forward to that and to see how he impacts the GAA landscape during his tenure.

“There are a lot of areas for improvement in the GAA and I suppose we’ve put our trust in Jarlath now to lead the Association forward and we’ll let him lead from the front.”

Kyle Coney

“I don’t know Jarlath personally, but I’ve heard him speak a number of times and he says all the right things. I think it’s a good thing for the GAA and by the time his tenure comes to an end he’ll want to have made his mark, that’s what all presidents want to do.

“The first thing he has done is drawn up a task committee and the names that he has on it, the likes of Éamonn Fitzmaurice, Jim Gavin, Colm Collins, men that have had a great impact on the game.

“They’re people that have a lot of good thoughts and they’re in the right places so that’s one major positive that he has done already in a short space of time, so I think we’re going to see a good tenure from Jarlath.”

Ryan McHugh

“It’s great, I would have got to know Jarlath fairly well with Dad (Martin) working with him on the BBC and I used to always love going to Ulster Championship matches with Dad to Clones and I was fortunate enough to see all those great people that were working with the BBC.

“Jarlath was obviously one of them and they had a great team together at that time with himself, Dad, Oisín McConville and different people, Peter Canavan as well.

“It’s great having an Ulster man as the President of the GAA. We’re extremely proud county people but we’re extremely proud Ulster people as well, everyone up here. I’d wish Jarlath all the best.

“I think he’s actually coming down to our club’s centenary year later on this year so hopefully I’ll get chatting to him then. He’ll give it his all anyway, that’s for sure, and hopefully he can do extremely well for Ulster and for the country.”

Sinead Reel

“We’re all delighted and it’s brilliant for not only Silverbridge but for south Armagh because it was probably known in the old school of thought as bandit country and it’s not like that anymore.

“We now have the President of the GAA and I think that’s massive for Armagh, for the six counties, for the nine counties of Ulster, it’s great to see Jarlath in there.

“I think he’ll have a big hand to play in the integration process. There’s things Jarlath and other members of the Armagh men’s board have done for the Armagh ladies that is only known to a small number of people within both committees.

“They’ve been so good to us and Jarlath along with Mickey Savage, were big drivers behind that support and from a club perspective in Silverbridge, we’re a one club model. Ladies football has the exact same rights as the men’s.

“I can’t see why Jarlath won’t push on with the same idea for the camogie, the ladies football and the GAA all coming together but people will have to give it a chance and give it time.

“This has to be done in small steps, it’s not going to happen over night but I do believe that Jarlath is fully supportive of all three associations coming together.