GAA Annual Reports

"A year in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael has a very particular rhythm. We mark time according to well-observed milestones – the club finals, the start of the Allianz Leagues, the All-Ireland Finals, the county final and so on. Every year is busy, and every year is different. At the outset we all harbour hopes of success in the form of titles and cups. Only some get there. But then success in the GAA takes many forms. Every year holds memories, and every year means many different things to different people.

For my part, one of the set pieces is the Annual Congress, and in particular the opportunity it presents to take stock and reflect on the year just ended. By any standard 2025 was a good year for Gaelic games. This was the year of John McGrath’s goal, of Louth, and of Football reimagined. It was the year of that Munster Final, of Darragh McCarthy and David Clifford’s pre-interval point. And those are just the high profile memories that all of us shared. You can be sure that there were similar heroics witnessed in local matches all over the country that will be retold for years to come. In your club, my club, every club. The matches may be what captivate us, but the fortunes of the GAA off the field are vital too, and in the pages that follow I shine a spotlight on that. On some particular highlights, on progress made, and yes, on some problems. Of course every year brings its challenges, but we overcome them. That’s what the GAA does. When I sat down to pen these reflections I intended to be concise. And I really tried. But the sheer breadth and scale of our organisation got the better of me. It just can’t be understated. Our games are played and watched by ever more people, and the work behind the scenes gets ever more complex and exacting as the Association continues to advance.

I am privileged to present my own perspectives on how the Association – all of us - did just that in 2025."

Tom Ryan, Ard Stiúrthoir CLG, 2026

The GAA Annual Reports can be found below.