Men’s Gaelic football is a team sport. It is played between two teams of 15 players on a rectangular grass pitch. The objective of the sport is to score by kicking the ball into the other team’s goals (3 points) or kicking or punching the ball between two upright posts above the goals and over a crossbar 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) above the ground (1 point).
Players advance the football, a spherical leather ball, up the field with a combination of carrying, bouncing, kicking, hand-passing, and soloing (dropping the ball and then toe-kicking the ball upward into the hands).
A point is awarded for kicking or hand-passing the ball over the crossbar, signalled by the umpire raising a white flag. A goal is awarded for kicking the ball under the crossbar into the net, signalled by the umpire raising a green flag.
Positions in Gaelic football are similar to that in other football codes, and comprise one goalkeeper, six backs, two midfielders, and six forwards, with a variable number of substitutes.
Gaelic football is one of the few remaining strictly amateur sports in the world, with players, coaches, and managers prohibited from receiving any form of payment.
Our member, the Provincial Council of Britain Gaelic Athletic Association is responsible for the regulation of competitions for girls under the age of 12, and for all boys and men’s competitions at club, county and university level.
In addition to delivering men’s and underage ladies gaelic football games in the traditional competition formats of league and championship; age specific and skill based games and competitions are also played with a view to developing players confidence and skills as they mature in their journey as a Gaelic Football player.
Examples of Gaelic Football coaching pathways are set out in the links below:
Youth Participation Games, Super Games Centres, Talent Academies, Go Games
Provincial Council of Britain GAA Strategic Plan:
Empowering Participation, Preserving Heritage 2024-2026
List of Provincial Council of Britain GAA Officers:
| Year | Location | County | President | Vice President | Secretary | Treasurer | Ard Comhairle Delegate | Hon Vice President |
| 1926 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Jim Ryan | |||||
| 1927 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Sean McInerney | |||||
| 1928 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Sean McInerney | |||||
| 1929 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Sean McInerney | |||||
| 1930 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Sean McInerney | |||||
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| 1931 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Sean McInerney | |||||
| 1932 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Sean McInerney | |||||
| 1933 | Jim Collins | Cyril McGough | Paddy Costello | Sean McInerney | Cyril McGough |
| 1934 | Jim Collins / Sam Smith | Paddy Costello | Sean McInerney | Cyril McGough | Cyril McGough | |||
| 1935 | Sam Smith | Paddy Costello | Sean McInerney | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1936 | Victoria Hotel, Liverpool | Lancs | Sam Smith | Cyril McGough | Paddy Costello | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | |
| 1937 | Jack Shalloe | Paddy Costello | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1938 | Jack Shalloe | Paddy Costello | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1939 | Jack Shalloe | Paddy Costello | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | ||||
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| 1940 | Sean McInerney | Paddy O’Donoghue | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1941 | Sean McInerney | Paddy O’Donoghue | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1942 | Sean McInerney | Paddy O’Donoghue | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough |
| 1943 | Frank Short | Paddy O’Donoghue | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1944 | Frank Short | Dan Murphy | Paddy O’Donoghue | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | |||
| 1945 | Frank Short | Paddy O’Donoghue | Mick O’Sullivan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1946 | Sean McInerney | Paddy O’Donoghue | Jim Hogan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1947 | Sean McInerney | Paddy O’Donoghue | Jim Hogan | Cyril McGough | ||||
| 1948 | Sean McInerney | Jack Shalloe | Paddy O’Donoghue | Jim Hogan | Cyril McGough | |||
| 1949 | Stork Hotel, Liverpool | Lancashire | Jack Shalloe | Jim Higgins | Paddy O’Donoghue | Jim Hogan | Cyril McGough | |
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| 1950 | Jack Shalloe | Jim Higgins | Paddy O’Donoghue | Jim Hogan | Cyril McGough | |||
| 1951 | Jack Shalloe | Jim Higgins | Paddy O’Donoghue / Dan Murphy | Jim Hogan | Cyril McGough |
| 1952 | Antrim Hotel, Manchester | Lancashire | Jim Higgins | Jim Conway | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy / Jim Hogan | Cyril McGough | |
| 1953 | Market Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Jim Higgins | Jim Conway | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Cyril McGough | |
| 1954 | Market Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Jim Higgins | Jim Conway | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Cyril McGough | |
| 1955 | St Patricks, Leeds | Yorkshire | im Conway | Chris Holden | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Sam Smith | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1956 | Midland Royal Hote | Gloucestershire | im Conway | Jerry Whitaker | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Sam Smith | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1957 | Lily Bank Hotel, Matlock | Derby | im Conway | Jerry Whitaker | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Sam Smith | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1958 | Stork Hotel, Liverpool | Lancs | Chris Holden | Rev Tom McNamara | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Sam Smith | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1959 | New Victoria Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Chris Holden | Jerry Whitaker | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Fr Donal Stritch | Fr Donal Stritch |
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| 1960 | Russel Hotel, London | London | Chris Holden | Jim Mullarkey | Dan Murphy | Sean T Cassidy | Dan Murphy | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1961 | Peahen Hotel, St Albans | Hertfordshire | Jim Mullarkey | Tommy Walsh | Paddy Ryan | Sean T Cassidy | Dan Murphy | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1962 | Imperial Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Jim Mullarkey | Tommy Walsh | Paddy Ryan | Sean T Cassidy | Dan Murphy | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1963 | Imperial Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Jim Mullarkey | Tommy Walsh | Paddy Ryan | Pat Garvey | Dan Murphy | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1964 | Imperial Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Tommy Walsh | Dan Murphy | Paddy Ryan | Pat Garvey | Jim Mullarkey | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1965 | Imperial Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Tommy Walsh | Michael O’Reilly | Paddy Ryan | Pat Garvey | Jim Mullarkey | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1966 | Irish Centre, Liverpool | Lancashire | Tommy Walsh | Michael O’Reilly | Paddy Ryan | Pat Garvey | Paddy Ryan | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1967 | St Barnabas Hall, Nottingham | East Midlands | Paddy Ryan | Frank Bellew | Michael O’Reilly | Pat Garvey | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1968 | St Peters, Gloucester | Gloucestershire | Paddy Ryan | Frank Bellew | Michael O’Reilly | Pat Garvey | Tommy Walsh | John McAndrew |
| 1969 | Guildford Hotel, Leeds | Yorkshire | Paddy Ryan | Frank Bellew | Michael O’Reilly | Pat Garvey | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch & John McAndrew |
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| 1970 | Peahan Hotel, St Albans | Hertfordshire | Frank Bellew | Pat McCabe | Michael O’Reilly | Pat Garvey | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch & John McAndrew |
| 1971 | Casserley Hotel, London | London | Frank Bellew | Pat McCabe | Michael O’Reilly | Pat Garvey | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1972 | Irish Centre, Liverpool | Lancashire | Frank Bellew | Pat McCabe | Michael O’Reilly | Pat Garvey | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1973 | Park House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Pat McCabe | Jim Browne | Michael O’Reilly | Pat Garvey | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1974 | St Peters, Gloucester | Gloucestershire | Pat McCabe | Jim Browne | Michael O’Reilly | Paddy Byrnes | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1975 | Irish Club, Leeds | Yorkshire | Pat McCabe | George McGuigan | Michael O’Reilly | Paddy Byrnes | Tommy Walsh | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1976 | Beverley Hotel, Luton | Hertfordshire | George McGuigan | Michael Kenny | Michael O’Reilly | Paddy Byrnes | Michael Hurley | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1977 | Horse Shoe Hotel, London | London | George McGuigan | Michael Kenny | Michael O’Reilly | Tom Coffey | Michael Hurley | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1978 | Parkview Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | George McGuigan | Michael Kenny | Michael O’Reilly | Tom Coffey | Michael Hurley | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1979 | Parkview Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Michael Kenny | Michael O’Reilly | Joe Rourke | Tom Coffey | Michael Hurley | Fr Donal Stritch |
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| 1980 | Parkview Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Michael Kenny | Michael O’Reilly | Joe Rourke | Tom Coffey | Frank Bellew | Fr Donal Stritch & George McGuigan |
| 1981 | Parkview Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Michael Kenny | Michael O’Reilly | Joe Rourke | Tom Coffey | Frank Bellew | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1982 | Sheridan House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Michael O’Reilly | Dermot O’Brien | Joe Rourke | Tom Coffey | Frank Bellew | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1983 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Michael O’Reilly | Dermot O’Brien | Joe Rourke | Tom Coffey | John Kelly | Fr Donal Stritch |
| 1984 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Michael O’Reilly | Dermot O’Brien | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Pat McCabe | Canon Donal Stritch |
| 1985 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Dermot O’Brien | Bartley Cahill | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Pat McCabe | Canon Donal Stritch |
| 1986 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Dermot O’Brien | Bartley Cahill | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Tadhg Meehan | Canon Donal Stritch |
| 1987 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Dermot O’Brien | Bartley Cahill | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Tadhg Meehan | Charlie Beirne |
| 1988 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Bartley Cahill | Billy Collins | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Tadhg Meehan | Charlie Beirne |
| 1989 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Bartley Cahill | Billy Collins | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Billy Collins | Charlie Beirne |
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| 1990 | Pairc na hEireann | Warwickshire | Bartley Cahill | Billy Collins | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Billy Collins | Charlie Beirne |
| 1991 | Bridge House Hotel, Birmingham | Warwickshire | Billy Collins | Patrick Johnson | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Tadhg Meehan | Charlie Beirne |
| 1992 | Pairc na hEireann | Warwickshire | Billy Collins | Patrick Johnson | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Michael O’Regan | Charlie Beirne |
| 1993 | Pairc na hEireann | Warwickshire | Billy Collins | Patrick Johnson | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Michael O’Regan | Charlie Beirne |
| 1994 | Pairc na hEireann | Warwickshire | Patrick Johnson | Martin Diggins | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Michael Hurley | Charlie Beirne |
| 1995 | Pairc na hEireann | Warwickshire | Patrick Johnson | Martin Diggins | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Sylvie O’Donoghoe | Charlie Beirne |
| 1996 | Ruislip GAA Grounds, London | London | Patrick Johnson | Martin Diggins | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Sylvie O’Donoghoe | Charlie Beirne |
| 1997 | Irish World Heritage Centre, Manchester | Lancashire | Martin Diggins | Eddie Hosty | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Sylvie O’Donoghoe | Charlie Beirne |
| 1998 | Pairc na hEireann | Warwickshire | Martin Diggins | Eddie Hosty | Joe Rourke | Tadhg Meehan | Fergal McKeon | Charlie Beirne |
| 1999 | Irish Centre, Leeds | Yorkshire | Martin Diggins | Eddie Hosty | Tadhg Meehan | Bernie Keane | Patrick Johnson | Charlie Beirne |
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| 2000 | Jurys Hotel, Bristol | Gloucestershire | Eddie Hosty | John Lacey | Tadhg Meehan | Bernie Keane | Patrick Johnson | Charlie Beirne |
| 2001 | St Josephs Parish Centre, Luton | Hertfordshire | Eddie Hosty | John Lacey | Tadhg Meehan | Bernie Keane | Patrick Johnson | Pat McCabe |
| 2002 | Duntocher Hotel, Gasgow | Scotland | Eddie Hosty | John Lacey | Tadhg Meehan | Bernie Keane | Patrick Johnson | Pat McCabe |
| 2003 | Irish Centre, Leeds | Yorkshire | John Lacey | John Gormley | Tadhg Meehan | Bernie Keane | Patrick Johnson | Pat McCabe |
| 2004 | The Leofric Hotel Coventry | Warwickshire | John Lacey | John Gormley | Tadhg Meehan | Bernie Keane | Brendie Brien | Pat McCabe |
| 2005 | Lancashire Cricket Club, Manchester | Lancashire | John Lacey | John Gormley | Tadhg Meehan | Martin Grogan | Brendie Brien | Pat McCabe |
| 2006 | Crown Moran Hotel, Crickelwood | London | John Gormley | Bernie Keane | Tadhg Meehan | Martin Grogan | Brendie Brien | None |
| 2007 | Jurys Inn, Glasgow | Scotland | John Gormley | Bernie Keane | Tadhg Meehan | Martin Grogan | Brendie Brien | None |
| 2008 | Jurys Inn, Leeds | Yorkshire | John Gormley | Bernie Keane | Tadhg Meehan/Yvonne Morley | Martin Grogan | Brendie Brien | |
| 2009 | Holiday Inn, Cardiff | Gloucestershire | Bernie Keane | Brendie Brien | Tadgh Meehan | Brendie Brien | ||
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| 2010 | Chiltern Hotel, Luton | Hertfordshire | Bernie Keane | Brendie Brien | Tadgh Meehan | Damien Kerr | Sean Hackett | |
| 2011 | The Connaught Hotel | Warwickshire | Bernie Keane | Brendie Brien | Tadgh Meehan | Sean Hackett | ||
| 2012 | Crown Moran Hotel | London | Brendie Brien | Sean Hackett | Tadhg Meehan/Sean Hackett | Iggy Donnelly | Paul Foley | |
| 2013 | Lancashire Cricket Grounds | Lancashire | Brendie Brien | Sean Hackett | Gary Kelly | Iggy Donnelly | Paul Foley | |
| 2014 | Jurys Inn, Edinburgh | Scotland | Brendie Brien | Sean Hackett | Diarmuid Walsh | Iggy Donnelly | Paul Foley | |
| 2015 | Tyneside Irish Centre, Newcastle | Yorkshire | Sean Hackett | Paul Foley | Brendie Brien | Iggy Donnelly | Paul Foley |
| 2016 | Sean Hackett | Paul Foley | Brendie Brien | Iggy Donnelly | ||||
| 2017 | Sean Hackett | Paul Foley | Brendie Brien | Iggy Donnelly | ||||
| 2018 | Paul Foley | Noel O’Sullivan | Karl McGuigan | Kieran Gleeson | Iggy Donnelly | |||
| 2019 | Paul Foley | Noel O’Sullivan | Karl McGuigan | Kieran Gleeson | Iggy Donnelly | |||
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| 2020 | Paul Foley | Noel O’Sullivan | Karl McGuigan | Kieran Gleeson | Iggy Donnelly | |||
| 2021 | Noel O’Sullivan | Sean Hopkins | Frank Dillon | Michael Walker | John Gormley | |||
| 2022 | Noel O’Sullivan | Sean Hopkins | Frank Dillon | Michael Walker | John Gormley | |||
| 2023 | Noel O’Sullivan | Sean Hopkins | Frank Dillon | Michael Walker | John Gormley | |||
| 2024 | Sean Hopkins | Michael Collins | Michael Walker | Frank Dillon | Noel O’Sullivan |
| 2025 | Lancashire Cricket Club, Manchester | Lancashire | Sean Hopkins | Michael Collins | Michael Walker | Frank Dillon | Noel O’Sullivan | |
| 2026 | Sheffield United FC, Sheffield | Yorkshire | Sean Hopkins | Michael Collins | Michael Walker | Diarmuid Walsh | Noel O’Sullivan |
All Britain Club Football Championship Roll of Honour:
*1964 – British Club championships begins
*1975/76 – British club champions began competing in the All-Ireland Club Championship
*2004 onwards – London senior football champions no longer eligible to compete in provincial competition. London senior champions instead go direct into All-Ireland Club SFC QF
1964 – Naomh Mhuire, London
1965 – Round Towers, London
1966 – Naomh Mhuire, London
1967 – Parnells, London
1968 – Parnells, London
1969 – Naomh Mhuire, London
1970 – Garryowen, London
1971 – Sean Treacys, London
1972 – Sean McDermotts, Warwickshire
1973 – Sean McDermotts, Warwickshire
1974 – De La Salle College, Lancashire
1975 – Sean McDermotts, Warwickshire
1976 – The Kingdom, London
1977 – The Kingdom, London
1978 – The Kingdom, London
1979 – The Kingdom, London
1980 – Tara, London
1981 – Parnells, London
1982 – Hugh O’Neills, Yorkshire
1983 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
1984 – Parnells, London
1985 – The Kingdom, London
1986 – The Kingdom, London
1987 – The Kingdom, London
1988 – John Mitchels, Warwickshire
1989 – The Kingdom, London
1990 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
1991 – Parnells, London
1992 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
1993 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
1994 – Oisins, Lancashire
1995 – Tara, London
1996 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
1997 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
1998 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
1999 – Hugh O’Neills, Yorkshire
2000 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
2001 – Tir Chonaill Gaels, London
2002 – St Brendans, London
2003 – Tara, London
2004 – St Peters, Lancashire
2005 – Harlesden Harps, London
2006 – Fulham Irish, London
2007 – John Mitchels, Lancashire
2008 – John Mitchels, Lancashire
2009 – Dunedin Connollys, Scotland
2010 – St Peters, Lancashire
2011 – Cuchullains, Yorkshire
2012 – St Peters, Lancashire
2013 – John Mitchels, Lancashire
2014 – John Mitchels, Lancashire
2015 – John Mitchels, Lancashire
2016 – Dunedin Connollys, Scotland
2017 – Dunedin Connollys, Scotland
2018 – Dunedin Connollys, Scotland
2019 – Tomas MacCurtains, London
2020 – Covid
2021 – St Brendans, Lancashire
2022 – Glasgow Gaels, Scotland
2023 – Wandsworth Gaels, London
2024 – Tara, London
2025 – Tara, London
All Britain Inter County Football Championship Roll of Honour:
1949 – Lancashire
1950 – TBC
1951 – TBC
1952 – TBC
1953 – TBC
1954 – TBC
1955 – TBC
1956 – TBC
1957 – TBC
1958 – Lancashire
1959 – TBC
1960 – TBC
1961 – Yorkshire
1962 – London
1963 – Lancashire
1964 – London
1965 – Hertfordshire
1966 – London
1967 – London
1968 – London
1969 – London
1970 – London
1971 – London
1972 – Hertfordshire
1973 – London
1974 – London
1975 – London
1976 – Warwickshire
1977 – TBC
1978 – Warwickshire
1979 – Warwickshire
1980 – Warwickshire
1981 – TBC
1982 – London
1983 – Yorkshire
1984 – Warwickshire
1985 – Warwickshire
1986 – London
1987 – Warwickshire
1988 – London
1989 – Warwickshire
1990 – Warwickshire
1991 – London
1992 – London
1993 – Lancashire
1994 – Lancashire
1995 – London
1996 – Yorkshire
1997 – Warwickshire
1998 – Warwickshire
1999 – Warwickshire
2000 – Hertfordshire
2001 – Yorkshire
2002 – Lancashire
2003 – Warwickshire
2004 – Lancashire
2005 – London
2006 – Warwickshire
2007 – London
2008 – Gloucestershire
2009 – London
2010 – Lancashire
2011 – Lancashire
2012 – Lancashire
2013 – Lancashire
2014 – Scotland
2015 – Kilkenny
2016 – Lancashire
2017 – Kilkenny
2018 – Kilkenny
2019 – Scotland
2020 – Covid
2021 – Warwickshire
2022 – London
2023 – Warwickshire
2024 – London
2025 – London
