Uachtarán

Larry McCarthy - GAA President

Larry Mc Carthy took charge as Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael at the GAA Congress of 2021 held remotely at Croke Park on February 27. The 40th GAA President since Maurice Davin in 1884, the New York GAA representative is the first-ever overseas official elected to the high office. 

The Cork native was involved with his local Bishopstown GAA Club before becoming fully immersed in GAA administrative duties while completing a B Ed. in Physical Education at NCPE/Thomond College in Limerick. He was a member of the Thomond College team that won the All-Ireland club football championship in 1978. 

After a teaching post in Dublin, McCarthy moved to the US in 1985 where he became a member of the Sligo Gaelic football club in New York and would go on to become Secretary to the New York GAA Board from 2003-2009 and then New York GAA Chairman from 2009-2011, while also serving as secretary of the Gaelic Park Development Committee since 2011. 

He has served on several national GAA committees and was elected as a GAA Trustee in 2018. At the time of his election as Uachtarán Tofa at Congress 2020 he was a member of the GAA’s Management Committee. 

He brings a wealth of professional experience to the leadership role of the GAA. An Associate Professor in the School of Business at Seton Hall University in New Jersey where he has been based since 1998, McCarthy has written and lectured extensively on the subject of Sport Management, as well as Sports Marketing and Sponsorship and has presented on numerous related topics at conferences around the world. 

One of nine children, his mother Aedin was treasurer of the Cork Camogie Board and Munster Camogie Council. His father Larry played amateur golf for Ireland and captained both the Munster and Irish golf teams. 

He is married to Barbara and they have two sons, Conor and Shane, who both work in theatre in NYC. 

His three-year term of office will run until February 2024.