John Horan confirmed as new SGI Chairperson

The Steering Group on Integration is delighted to welcome John Horan as its new Chairperson.

From the Na Fianna club in Dublin, John Horan was Uachtarán CLG from 2018-2021.

He has been nominated and ratified by all three associations at meetings of their respective management committees this evening.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to former Chairperson Dr. Mary McAleese for her dedication, leadership and commitment to the Integration of Gaelic games. Her contribution and stewardship helped shape and strengthen the work of the group, and we are grateful for the time, energy and guidance she has provided during her tenure in which significant progress was made.

As we continue to move the integration of Gaelic games forward, this transition marks an important and exciting new chapter. Importantly, we are not starting from scratch. Significant progress has already been made through the commitment and collaboration of volunteers, members and stakeholders across our associations. The shared ambition for a united future remains strong and this was clearly reaffirmed at the most recent Oireachtas hearing, where there was broad recognition that the governance structure and code representation models are close to completion.

Building on these strong foundations, we look forward to working with John Horan, as we continue to advance our shared vision, bring the Gaelic games community along on this journey, and support the next phase of integration for the benefit of current and future generations of our members.

President of the LGFA, Trina Murray said: "John Horan is an outstanding appointment. He knows Gaelic games inside out, and his experience will be a huge asset as we drive integration forward. We're delighted to have him on board, and we look forward to working with him."

Uachtarán an Chumainn Camógaíochta, Brian Molloy said: "The Camogie Association welcomes John Horan's appointment, at what is a crucial time for Integration. There is a significant body of work already complete on the project. John's deep knowledge and understanding of Gaelic games, and particularly the GAA landscape, ideally position him to help us achieve buy-in and deliver Integration in the shortest timeframe possible.”

Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: "John Horan was at the helm as we navigated our way through the worst of times that was the Pandemic. His proven leadership, experience, integrity and ability to meet challenges head on make him an outstanding choice as our new Chair, and to lead us to what will be the best of times as an integrated Gaelic games community. He brought representatives of Camogie and LGFA onto GAA Management during his tenure, and he has the respect of all three Associations to make this work. I look forward to working with him in creating a GAA for all and a GAA Where We All Belong."

John Horan said: "I come from a club that has achieved success on and off the field by valuing all of our members and harnessing our full potential across the GAA, Camogie and LGFA. Being elected Uachtarán was an enormous honour, and to be asked to Chair the Steering Group on Integration and work with everyone who is committed to having a new dawn for Gaelic games is a responsibility and a privilege that I am excited to take on."

John Horan Biography

From the Na Fianna Club in Dublin's Glasnevin, John Horan (b. 1958) is a retired Secondary School Principal who served as 39^th Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael from 2018-2021.

During his tenure, he oversaw the addition of the Ard Stiúrthóirí of Camogie and LGFA onto the GAA Management Committee, unveiled the GAA Where We All Belong manifesto, and in 2019 oversaw the GAA becoming the first national sporting Association in Ireland to establish a gender diversity committee. In June 2019, Horan approved the first ever official participation by the GAA in the national Dublin Pride Parade.

The first Dublin-born Uachtarán CLG since Dan McCarthy in 1924, other milestones during his tenure included the GAA Special Congress in Cork that approved the introduction of what became the Tailteann Cup in football, and amendments to separate the club and county fixture programme as a result of the Covid 19 Pandemic. Horan's stewardship of the Association during the Pandemic was widely praised - off the field Gaelic games facilities and members responded to help communities and on the field the All-Ireland Championships were successfully staged and completed in December 2020 and club championships were also completed despite the restrictions.

Na Fianna is an example of a One Club in action where its more than 3,000 members across more than 100 teams promote Camogie, Ladies Football, Hurling and Gaelic Football equally. Still active as an underage coach in his club, Horan also previously worked with underage Dublin football teams. He was a selector with the All-Ireland minor football final team of 2001 and later served as manager. His coaching career saw him work closely with future senior players such as Dessie Farrell, Jason Sherlock, Bryan Cullen and Diarmuid Connolly.

He is a former Chair of Leinster GAA, is the current Chair of the Páirc Uí Chaoimh Stadium Board, and Chair of the Stadium Development Committee in Louth, as well as serving on the committee overseeing the construction of the new Páirc Tailteann in Navan.