Aogán Ó Fearghail
{{Short description|Irish sports administrator (born 1959)}}
{{BLP sources|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2016}}
Aogán Ó Fearghail ({{IPA|ga|ˈiːɡaːn̪ˠ oː ˈfʲaɾˠɣiːlʲ|pron}}; born 1959) is an Irish sports administrator who was the 38th president of the Gaelic Athletic Association.{{cite news|title=Aogán Ó Fearghail takes over as GAA President |date=28 February 2015 |work=Gaelic Athletic Association |url=http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2802151632-aogan-o-fearghail-takes-over-as-gaa-president/ |access-date=3 March 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402203954/http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2802151632-aogan-o-fearghail-takes-over-as-gaa-president/ |archive-date= 2 April 2015 }}
Administrative career
From Maudabawn, Drumgoon in County Cavan, Ó Fearghail was the first Cavan president in the 130-year history of the GAA.{{cite web|url = http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/aogan-ofearghail-elected-new-gaa-president-30031520.html|title= Aogan O'Fearghail elected new GAA president|date=21 February 2014|work=Irish Independent|access-date=24 February 2014}} He became the seventh man from Ulster to have acquired the role.{{cite web|url = https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/northern-ireland/26279750|title= Aogán Ó Fearghaíl elected as new GAA President|date=21 February 2014|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 February 2014}}
Ó Fearghail was elected to the position at the 2014 GAA Congress in Dublin. Out of a total vote of 310, he received 170 votes, while Sheamus Howlin from Wexford came second with 83 and Seán Walsh of Kerry came third with 57.{{cite web|url=http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2102141842-gaa-president/ |title=Aogán Ó Fearghai elected |date=21 February 2014 |work=Gaa.ie |access-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040611/http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2102141842-gaa-president/ |archive-date=24 September 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thescore.ie/aogan-o-fearghail-gaa-president-2-1327936-Feb2014/ |title=Cavan's Aogán Ó Fearghail elected as the new GAA President |date=21 February 2014 |work=The Score |access-date=24 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301053748/http://www.thescore.ie/aogan-o-fearghail-gaa-president-2-1327936-Feb2014/ |archive-date= 1 March 2014 }}
Ó Fearghail officially took over as GAA president on 28 February 2015 at the GAA's Annual Congress at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Cavan, and was succeeded by John Horan.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gaa.ie/news/john-horan-reflects-on-his-term-as-gaa-president/|title = John Horan reflects on his term as GAA President|website=Gaa.ie}}
Ó Fearghail worked his way from his native Drumgoon Éire Óg club, serving at all levels with club, county, province and at national level.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} As a GAA coach, he coached his club Drumgoon Eire Og under-12s for 25 years, and built the club from junior "also-rans" to one of Cavan's strongest club units.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} He played hurling with Erins Hope at St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, and has also played handball at the highest levels.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
Personal life
Ó Fearghail is a member of the HSE,{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/former-gaa-president-aogan-o-fearghail-among-new-appointees-to-revamped-hse-board-37738196.html|title=Former GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail among new appointees to revamped HSE board|website=Independent.ie|first=Eilish|last=O'Regan|date=22 January 2019|access-date=9 February 2022}} and was previously a primary school principal at St Patrick's National School, Dernakesh, in his native parish of Drumgoon in Cavan, and also runs many businesses with his wife.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
Together they managed the family shop and post office and jointly built and ran a Cultural Centre in County Cavan.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} Ó Fearghail has published local histories and is a contributor to historical seminars and heritage events. He was also for many years principal of a Gaeltacht summer college in Gortahork, County Donegal, where he spends much free time.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924040624/http://www.gaa.ie/gaa-news-and-videos/daily-news/1/2202140756-video-aogan-o-fearghail-speaks-to-gaaie/ 2014 Interview at GAA.ie]
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{{succession box
| title = President of the Gaelic Athletic Association
| before = Liam O'Neill
| after = John Horan
| years = 2015–2018
}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:OFearghail, Aogan}}
Category:Cavan County Board administrators
Category:Gaelic games players from County Cavan
Category:Gaelic games club administrators
Category:Heads of schools in Ireland
Category:Health Service Executive people
Category:Presidents of the Gaelic Athletic Association
Category:20th-century Irish people
Category:21st-century Irish people
Category:Ulster Provincial Council administrators
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