GAA President Jarlath Burns: 'We're Healthy, Growing, and Open to Change'

In 2021, Jarlath Burns became the 40th president of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), the governing body of Ireland's traditional sports of Gaelic football, hurling, and camogie. Burns, a former All-Ireland winner with Mayo, has big plans for the GAA, including growing the games overseas, increasing participation, and improving facilities.

In an exclusive interview, I sat down with Burns to discuss his vision for the GAA and the challenges and opportunities facing the organization.

"The GAA is in a healthy place," Burns told me. "We're growing, we're strong, and we're open to change."

Burns pointed to the increasing number of people playing GAA games at all levels, from underage to senior. He also noted the growing interest in the GAA from overseas, particularly in the United States and Canada.

"We're seeing more and more people from all over the world taking up our games," Burns said. "That's great for the GAA and for Irish culture."

While the GAA is in a strong position, Burns knows there are challenges to overcome. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of facilities in some areas.

"We need to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to play our games," Burns said. "That means investing in facilities and making sure that they're accessible to everyone."

Another challenge is the increasing cost of participation in the GAA. Burns said the GAA is working to reduce costs for families and to ensure that everyone can afford to play.

"We want to make sure that the GAA is affordable for everyone," Burns said. "We don't want cost to be a barrier to participation."

Despite the challenges, Burns is confident that the GAA has a bright future. He said the GAA is committed to growing the games, improving facilities, and reducing costs.

"We're excited about the future of the GAA," Burns said. "We're confident that we can continue to grow the games and make them even more accessible to everyone."

Here are some of the key takeaways from my interview with Jarlath Burns:

• The GAA is in a healthy place and is growing in popularity.
• The GAA is committed to increasing participation and improving facilities.
• The GAA is working to reduce the cost of participation.
• Burns is confident that the GAA has a bright future.

If you're interested in learning more about the GAA, I encourage you to visit their website at www.gaa.ie. You can also follow them on social media @OfficialGAA.