Structure of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Encyclopedia
The Structure of the Gaelic Athletic Association
is a voluntary, democratic association consisting of various boards, councils, and committees organised in a structured hierarchy. The individual club is the basic unit of the association, and the world headquarters are at Croke Park
. All of the Gaelic Athletic Association
's activities are governed by a book called the Official Guide. Each County Board may have its own by-laws, none of which may conflict with the Official Guide. Each Divisional Board may have its own regulations, none of which may duplicate or contradict the Official Guide or county by-laws.
Congress is an annual meeting of all the GAA county boards and provincial councils. It is here that changes to the Official Guide can be made. Central Council is a committee consisting of representatives of county boards and senior management at Croke Park. In Ireland there are four provincial councils, and there are some overseas units that fit into the same level, such as the British Provincial Council
. In Ireland there are 32 county boards, and again there are overseas units that fit into this level, such as the New York Board
and the Canadian Board
.
With the exception of Central Council, all of these councils, boards, and committees are elected at an annual meeting at which the outgoing board reports on its year's activities before stepping down and the election of the incoming board taking place.
The Higher Education GAA
fulfills a similar role as the County Board in competitions where educational institutions such as UCD GAA
field teams. Some institutions like UCD are also considered clubs by the County Board and so fall under the two jurisdictions.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
is a voluntary, democratic association consisting of various boards, councils, and committees organised in a structured hierarchy. The individual club is the basic unit of the association, and the world headquarters are at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
. All of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
's activities are governed by a book called the Official Guide. Each County Board may have its own by-laws, none of which may conflict with the Official Guide. Each Divisional Board may have its own regulations, none of which may duplicate or contradict the Official Guide or county by-laws.
- Annual CongressGaelic Athletic Association CongressGAA Congress is an annual gathering of the Gaelic Athletic Association in which changes to the rule book, the Official Guide, may be undertaken, where the year is reviewed, and a new President of the association formally takes office...
- PresidentPresidents of the Gaelic Athletic AssociationThe role of President of Gaelic Athletic Association has existed since the foundation of the GAA . The current president of the GAA is Christy Cooney. The role of President involves representing the GAA in Ireland and across the world...
- Central Council
- Provincial councils
- County BoardGAA countyA Gaelic Athletic Association county is a geographic region within the Gaelic Athletic Association , controlled by a county board and originally based on the counties of Ireland as they were in 1884. While the counties of Ireland have changed since the foundation of that date, the GAA counties have...
- Divisional Board (in some larger counties)
- Sport specific board (in some counties)
- Club Committee
Congress is an annual meeting of all the GAA county boards and provincial councils. It is here that changes to the Official Guide can be made. Central Council is a committee consisting of representatives of county boards and senior management at Croke Park. In Ireland there are four provincial councils, and there are some overseas units that fit into the same level, such as the British Provincial Council
British GAA
The British Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association or British GAA is the only provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in Great Britain...
. In Ireland there are 32 county boards, and again there are overseas units that fit into this level, such as the New York Board
New York GAA
The New York County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or New York GAA, is one of the county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in the New York metropolitan area...
and the Canadian Board
Canada GAA
The Canadian County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association , or Canada GAA, is one of the county boards of the GAA outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games all across Canada. The county board is also responsible for Canadian inter county teams-History:Gaelic games have been played...
.
With the exception of Central Council, all of these councils, boards, and committees are elected at an annual meeting at which the outgoing board reports on its year's activities before stepping down and the election of the incoming board taking place.
The Higher Education GAA
Higher Education GAA
Higher Education GAA is the governing body for the Gaelic Games of Hurling, Camogie and Gaelic football for third level institutions. The body coordinates competitions in both Ireland and Britain. It is a part of the parent organisation: the Gaelic Athletic Association...
fulfills a similar role as the County Board in competitions where educational institutions such as UCD GAA
UCD GAA
UCD GAA or University College Dublin Gaelic Athletic Association club is a Dublin based Gaelic games club in University College Dublin. The UCD hurling club was founded in 1900 and boasted the motto's "Ad Astra" and "Cothrom Féinne". The first team was an amalgamation of students from UCD and...
field teams. Some institutions like UCD are also considered clubs by the County Board and so fall under the two jurisdictions.
- Annual CongressGaelic Athletic Association CongressGAA Congress is an annual gathering of the Gaelic Athletic Association in which changes to the rule book, the Official Guide, may be undertaken, where the year is reviewed, and a new President of the association formally takes office...
- PresidentPresidents of the Gaelic Athletic AssociationThe role of President of Gaelic Athletic Association has existed since the foundation of the GAA . The current president of the GAA is Christy Cooney. The role of President involves representing the GAA in Ireland and across the world...
- Central Council
- Higher Education GAAHigher Education GAAHigher Education GAA is the governing body for the Gaelic Games of Hurling, Camogie and Gaelic football for third level institutions. The body coordinates competitions in both Ireland and Britain. It is a part of the parent organisation: the Gaelic Athletic Association...
- Educational institution