Jack Boothman

{{For|the Australian rules footballer|Jack Boothman (footballer)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=November 2020}}

File:Opening_of_Paric_Liosgcul_by_GAA_President_Jack_Boothman_June_1995.jpg

John Henry "Jack" Boothman (12 October 1935 – 10 May 2016)[https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/jack-boothman-first-protestant-president-of-the-gaa-1.2647472 Jack Boothman: first Protestant president of the GAA] The Irish Times was the 31st president of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) between 1994 and 1997. He was an active member of his local Blessington GAA club in County Wicklow.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/northern_ireland/gaelic_games/3422451.stm|title=Boothman warns of dangers|publisher=BBC|date=23 January 2004|access-date=26 November 2020}}

He was chairman of the Leinster Council from 1987 until 1989.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102920/https://leinstergaa.ie/_fileupload/Archives/P07_11_%20ChairmenPics.pdf Chairmen Pics]

He was elected as president of the Association and took up the position in 1994. Boothman championed the abolition of Rule 21, which debarred members of the British security forces from joining the GAA.[http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2001/11/17/story17397.asp Irish Examiner] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050127200658/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/2001/11/17/story17397.asp |date=2005-01-27 }}, 17 November 2001 "Taoiseach urges GAA to abolish Rule 21"]

However, Boothman opposed the opening up of Croke Park to international soccer and rugby, feeling that it would be a "disastrous mistake" for the GAA to benefit competing sports so significantly.

A member of the Church of Ireland and past pupil of The King's Hospital, Dublin, Boothman was the first Protestant president of the GAA.[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5089/is_199404/ai_n18501697 BOOTHMAN SEEKS TO ESTABLISH GAA DOMINANCE], BNET.com Until his death at the age of 80 in 2016, he still held the position of President within his own local club.