GAA Congress 2026 – A Historic Result for GAA Rounders
Uachtarán GAA Rounders, Paula Doherty, and National Secretary, Shirley Lennon, at GAA Congress, Croke Park (28 February 2026)
GAA Congress 2026 – A Historic Result for GAA Rounders
Croke Park, 28 February 2026 – While the election of Wexford’s Derek Kent as the 42nd Uachtarán of the GAA was a significant highlight of the weekend, the focus for the GAA Rounders community centred squarely on Motion 2 on Saturday morning.
Finding a Voice
Motion 2, submitted by the Old Leighlin club of Carlow, proposed a formal amendment to Rule 3.40 (a) of the Official Guide Part 1. The goal was simple yet profound: to officially include a representative from GAA Rounders on the Central Council.
In proposing the motion, Michael Meaney (Old Leighlin) – who has served as the GAA Rounders Liaison Officer from An Coiste Bainistíochta for the past three years – delivered a poignant argument for equality. He noted that “GAA Rounders doesn’t have a voice” within the current structure and stated that “it seems unfair that GAA Rounders is the only group, the only code, not included” in the list of units with a vote and a seat on the Council. The motion was seconded by Michéal Martin of Wexford.
Michael Meaney, Paula Doherty, and Shirley Lennon at Michael’s final GAA Rounders Ard Chomhairle meeting (7 February 2026)
An Overdue Seat at the Table
Central Council is the governing body of the GAA between annual Congress meetings, holding authority over all Association matters. As one of the original four codes established in the 1884 Charter, the granting of a seat to GAA Rounders was a moment both historically significant and long overdue.
Prior to the vote, Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns granted speaking rights to the Uachtarán of GAA Rounders, Paula Doherty. Addressing the delegates from the podium in a powerful speech, Paula remarked, “This is a simple motion, but it’s a very meaningful one for us.” She reminded the room that “Rounders has always been part of the GAA family,” and that the motion was fundamentally about “making sure that our structures match what we already are.”
Uachtarán GAA Rounders, Paula Doherty, delivers a historic address to delegates at GAA Congress (28 February 2026)
A Resounding Mandate
In her concluding remarks, Paula thanked Congress for the “respect and openness” shown to the code, reiterating that “a single seat on Central Council is a small step, but an important one for us.”
The delegates agreed. Motion 2 passed with an overwhelming majority of 98.3%.
Looking Forward
Paula Doherty, along with the entire Ard Chomhairle of GAA Rounders, looks forward to playing an expanded role in the governance of the Association. This result ensures that our code will contribute directly to the future of the organisation we are all so proud to be a part of.
