Ulster GAA


Ulster GAA is the administrative body for the Gaelic Athletic Association the traditional Irish province of Ulster, consisting of the six counties of Northern Ireland plus Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan in the Republic of Ireland.
Ulster GAA oversees a range of administrative tasks including the organisation of provincial level competitions such as the annual Ulster Senior Football Championship as well as the Ulster teams which compete in provincial competitions.
Headquartered in Armagh City, the current President is Armagh’s Michael Geoghan and the Secretary is Down’s Brian McAvoy.
Ulster GAA is responsible for Gaelic football, hurling and handball in the province, whilst Ladies Gaelic football, camogie and rounders are administered by separate bodies.

Early history

The Gaelic Athletic Association was founded in Hayes Hotel in Thurles County Tipperary on 1 November 1884 by Michael Cussack. With the support of patrons such as Land League leaders Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Davitt, as well as Archbishop Thomas Croke, the association quickly grew, with clubs being established in parishes across Ireland.
The first Ulster club to affiliate to the national organisation was Ballyconnell in County Cavan in 1885 and over the next few years clubs and county boards were formed in Cavan, Monaghan, Armagh, Fermanagh and Derry.
The first Ulster Football Championship was held in 1888, which consisted of two games between Red Hand of Monaghan and Moch Finn’s of Cavan. The first game resulted in a draw on 19 August and Red Hand won the subsequent replay on 9 September.
No championship was held the following year, but in 1890 Armagh defeated Antrim and then Tyrone to lift their first title. Neither Cavan nor Monaghan entered the competition. In 1891, Cavan regained their title, defeating Armagh after a replay, but this was the last Ulster Championship to be held until 1901.
The early association was beset with problems, owing to a litany of issues including rapid growth, the disapproval of Sunday games in Protestant areas and the distance between Ulster and the GAA’s headquarters in Munster. The association effectively failed to operate with only a handful of clubs operating in the middle of the 1890s.
By 1901, the association saw a revival, coupled with the growth of Conradh na Gaeilge in areas like Belfast. The first Ulster Council was established at a meeting in Armagh in 1903 with Belfast solicitor George Martin elected as the first President and MV O’Nolan as Vice-President and 20-year-old Derry draper Louis O’Kane as secretary.

County boards

  • Antrim
  • Armagh
  • Cavan
  • Derry
  • Donegal
  • Down
  • Fermanagh
  • Monaghan
  • Tyrone

    Football

Provincial team

The Ulster provincial football team represents the province of Ulster in Gaelic football. The team competes in the Railway Cup.

Players

Players from the following county teams represent Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Donegal, Down, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Cavan and Tyrone.

Competitions

Inter-county

Club

All-time top scorers from Ulster county teams

As of 3 June 2008 according to the BBC.
RankPlayerCounty teamTallyTotal scoreChampionship years
1Oisín McConvilleArmagh11–1972301997–
2Peter CanavanTyrone9–1922181989–2005
3Paddy BradleyDerry13–1702092000–2012
4Paddy DohertyDown15–1592041954–1971
5Peter DonohoeCavan17–1331841945–1955
6Seán O'NeillDown17–1251761959–1975
7Charlie GallagherCavan10–142172?–?
8Steven McDonnellArmagh15–1111562000–
9Seán O'ConnellDerry11–1181511957–1975
10Ronan CarolanCavan2–138144?–?

;Notes:
  • Includes Ulster Championship, All-Ireland Championship and Qualifiers.

    All-time top goalscorers from Ulster county teams

As of 15 June 2008, according to the Sunday Tribune.
RankPlayerCounty teamNumber of goalsChampionship years
1Steven McDonnellArmagh172000–2012
1Peter DonohoeCavan171945–1955
1Seán O'NeillDown171959–1975
4Paddy DohertyDown151954–1971
5Paddy BradleyDerry132000–
5Ger HoulahanArmagh131984–2000
5James McCartan SnrDown131958–1967
5Brendan CoulterDown132000–2015
9Joe StaffordCavan121943–1949
9Enda MuldoonDerry121997–
9Jason ReillyCavan121997–
12Seán O'ConnellDerry111957–1975
12P. T. TreacyFermanagh111960–1973
12Oisín McConvilleArmagh111997–2008

Notes:
  • Includes Ulster Championship, All-Ireland Championship and Qualifiers.

    Hurling

Provincial team

The Ulster provincial hurling team represents the province of Ulster in hurling. The team competes in the Railway Cup.

Players

Competitions

Inter-county

Ulster has always been the weakest of the provinces in hurling terms, possibly due to the difference between the hurling promulgated by the early Gaelic Athletic Association and the "commons" game played in Ulster. The Ulster hurling team have only won four Railway Cup semi-final games in their history, it, however, lost in each of those Railway Cup deciders.
There have been some successes over the years, mostly by Antrim teams:
In 2020, a concept was discussed among players and managers, with a proposal that a combined "Team Ulster" would compete in the Liam MacCarthy Cup.

Grades

Camogie

Gael Linn Cup

The Ulster camogie team has twice won the premier representative competition in the women's team field sport of camogie, the Gael Linn Cup, in 1967 and 2007.

Gael Linn Trophy

The Ulster provincial junior camogie team won the Gael Linn Trophy on eight occasions: 1979, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1998, 2000 and 2002.

Honours