O'Neill envisages female GAA president

December 11, 2014

GAA president Liam O'Neill at the launch of the Higher Education senior championships.
©INPHO/Ryan Byrne.

Liam O'Neill believes it's only a matter of time before a woman is elected president of the GAA.

The incumbent's comments come after Roisin Jordan made history by becoming the first female county board chairperson when she was elected to the highest position in Tyrone on Tuesday night.

"People ask us will there be a women president of the GAA? Of course there will," O'Neill is quoted in the Irish Examiner.

"But it takes time. You have to have a body of people. It takes a while to build up a critical mass of women who are involved to then bring forward someone who is top of their administration.

"Women are only in administration in senior positions 20 years. It took me 36 years to become president. So you can't expect things to happen overnight.

"There is a natural progression. You have to show your credentials along the way. But the great thing about this is that once the barrier was broken, others will follow and it will seem more natural now. This is a smooth transition in Tyrone. She's a competent person and I think it's paved the way for the future by virtue of the fact that others will see it now as a possibility to do what she has."

O'Neill commended Tyrone for breaking new ground.

"They're open-minded and have a history of throwing up good administrators. This is just one more good appointment," he added.


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