GAA PRESIDENT LIAM O’Neill says it’s inevitable that a female will follow him in the position at some point and lead the Association.
Tyrone have broken new ground by appointing Roisin Jordan as their county chairperson, the first time a woman has held the highly symbolic position in the entire country.
O’Neill knows Jordan personally having appointed her to head up a committee related to the training of club and county officers in the past.
He said he realised at the time that her contribution “was going to be recognised by high office” at some stage and anticipated her upgrade.
Depending on her interest and ambition, Jordan could attempt to move into provincial administration in Ulster and, potentially, challenge for the GAA Presidency.
O’Neill said that the time is definitely coming closer when a women is elected President of the GAA for the first time.
“People ask us will there be a women President of the GAA? Of course there will,” said O’Neill. “But it takes time. You have to have a body of people.
“It takes a while to build up a critical mass of women who are involved to then bring forward someone who is top of their administration.
“Women are only in administration in senior positions 20 years. It took me 36 years to become President. So you can’t expect things to happen over night.
There is a natural progression. You have to show your credentials along the way. The great thing about this is that once the barrier was broken, others will follow and it will seem more natural now.
“This is a smooth transition in Tyrone. She’s a competent person and I think it’s paved the way for the future by virtue of the fact that others will see it now as a possibility to do what she has.”
O’Neill praised Tyrone for embracing change and appointing the Eglish club member as the successor to Ciaran McLaughlin in the county.
“I commend Tyrone for being first,” continued O’Neill. “They’re open minded and they have a good history of throwing up good administrators. This is just one more good appointment.”
First published at 06.10