By John Harrington

Normally marked in a room filled with hundreds of people, this year the handover of the GAA Presidential Medal had to be done a little differently as John Horan's term as GAA President ended and Larry McCarthy's began.

In the speech that formally marked the end of his time in the role, Horan made it clear he has high hopes for his successor.

"Our in-coming Uachtarán is a ground-breaking individual and the first President representing our overseas units," said Horan in his speech to Annual Congress last Saturday.

"Wherever he has been, the GAA has been at the heart of it. I look forward to the energy and ideas Larry brings to the role in the coming three years and pledge him my support as I am sure we all do. And wish him, his wife Barbara, and sons Conor and Shane health and happiness during his term.

"We’re told that all good things must come to an end. But while my part in this chapter of GAA history is over, I leave office with a happy heart that the GAA is far from over, neither is my own passion and awe of this great Association and I look forward to watching my family to continue to get the same satisfaction and benefit from their involvement in their local club that I did."

In his maiden speech as the GAA's 40th President, Larry McCarthy was generous in his praise of his predcessor.

"I want to pay tribute to the leadership of John Horan," said McCarthy. "He was thrown into an unprecented circumstance last year. He did not know what he faced when the virus hit, nobody did, but with a steady hand, and an eye on the end game, he has led us through perhaps the strangest 12 months in our history."