By John Harrington

John Horan has been elected as the new GAA President-elect at the 2017 GAA Annual Congress in Croke Park.

Horan, who recently stepped down as Leinster Council Chairman after his three-year term elapsed, will become the first Dublin GAA President to hold the office since Joseph Stuart who served from 1958 to 1961, and the first native Dubliner since Daniel McCarthy (1921 to 1924).

He was elected on the first-count after polling 144 of the 278 votes cast.

The Na Fianna club-man is Principal of St. Vincent’s CBS Secondary School in Glasnevin and will now serve as GAA President from 2018 to 2020.

In his acceptance speech, the new President-elect began by paying tribute to the other four candidates he had campaigned against – Galway’s Frank Burke, Kerry’s Sean Walsh, Clare’s Robert Frost, and Longford’s Martin Skelly.

“First of all, I would like to extend my commiserations to Martin, Robert, Sean, and Frank,” said Horan. “It was a long and hard campaign. I think anyone who spoke to any of us in the last few days here in Croke Park or over in the (Croke Park) Hotel realised the drain it was for each and every one of us.

“I would say most sincerely that each and every candidate fought this in a very fair and honourable manner and that's a credit to them.

“To the four lads, it takes courage to put your head above the parapet and take on the challenge of trying to be elected. For that, you deserve great credit. You all have great track-records in this organisation and I have no doubt that you will all continue to work for and on behalf of the Association.”

An emotional Horan then thanked all of those who he felt had played crucial roles in his successful election.

“I would particularly like to thank my own County Board, Sean Shanley and John Costello for their support throughout the campaign,” he said.

“And there's numerous other people in the hall here tonight who gave me their support and a kick in the ass when I needed when they thought I was getting a little bit complacent.

“Those people are too numerous to mention but in time I'll get around to thanking them each and every one of you.

“I'd especially like to thank my wife Paula for her support. She always encouraged me and looked after the home affairs when I was on the road. I would like to thank those in Na Fianna, my club. Throughout the years when I was a young lad growing up they taught me how to behave myself, how to carry myself and how to believe in the GAA.

“I suppose Na Fianna always had three traits. It was always on your membership. Purity in your heart, strength in your limbs, and action according to your words. That was something that was always drilled into you as a young lad in Na Fianna.

“There are a lot of grew men there, some of them have passed on, but I certainly owe them a lot. I'm not renowned for long speeches and I'm certainly not going to change that.

“I would say one thing, I learned one great lesson out of all of this campaign. If you wake up at night, count sheep, don't start counting votes!”

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