Wexford nominate Derek Kent for GAA presidency

Current Leinster and former county chairman to join Ger Ryan in election

Derek Kent led the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee between 2021 and ’24. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Leinster chairman Derek Kent has been nominated by his county Wexford for the GAA presidency.

The Taghmon-Camross man was endorsed at his county’s annual convention in Clayton White’s Hotel in Wexford town.

Kent, who led the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee between 2021 and ’24, served as chairman of his county between 2017 and ’20.

He was also on the national infrastructure committee for nine years and chaired Leinster GAA committees including infrastructure, health and safety.

Kent joins Tipperary’s Ger Ryan in February’s election to succeed Jarlath Burns and become the 42nd president of the GAA in 2027. It is expected they will be the only contestants for the position.

A statement from Wexford GAA on Monday night confirmed Kent “was formally proposed by Tony Dempsey, seconded by Micheál Martin, with the unanimous support of Coiste Bainistí CLG Loch Garman. We wish him the very best.

“Derek has always shown great leadership and drive with both Wexford and Leinster, and he leaves a great legacy at county and provincial level. He would be a fitting choice to lead the Association through the years ahead. Go n-eirí an tádh leis!” 

The previous Wexford men to hold the presidential office were Michael Kehoe (1949-52) and Patrick Breen (1924-26). The late Sheamus Howlin was a presidential nominee in 2014.

Meanwhile, Dublin GAA chief executive Finbarr O’Mahony has warned creating new clubs in the capital won’t solve the problem of a lack of pitches and facilities.

“There has also been talk of the need for new clubs in certain areas of the county but in Dublin suitable, available and most importantly, affordable land is a scarce commodity,” wrote O’Mahony in his annual report.

He continued: “If the bigger clubs cannot secure facilities, then a newer club just starting out is going to face the same problems, armed with far less assets. Dublin also faces fairly unique demographic challenges in areas of the county where whole new suburbs and towns are being developed. Greenfield sites that have previously had very little population are springing up.

“There are whole new areas where there is little or no GAA tradition. In addition to no existing clubs serving these particular areas, the people buying the houses are also obviously new to these areas so there is a real challenge in cultivating and growing our games.

“Already faced with the ever-present issues of acquiring land and facilities, the situation is compounded by the lack of existing GAA activity.” 

O’Mahony also addressed traditional GAA clubs in Dublin who are experiencing similar problems to those of rural units. “These are clubs that also have proud histories and traditions and who have been promoting Gaelic games in their communities for many, many years.

“Based mostly in more mature areas of Dublin, these clubs are experiencing little or no further growth, with decreasing birth rates in the area, smaller family sizes and an ageing population. Allied to this are ever increasing house prices, which are unaffordable in many parts of our city for younger families.” 

A revised motion by John McCaffrey’s club Clontarf, proposing that a player must line out in eight games for his club to be eligible for inter-county championship, was passed.