County (Gaelic games)

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A county is a geographic region within Gaelic games, controlled by a county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and originally based on the 32 counties of Ireland as they were in 1884. While the administrative geography of Ireland has since changed, with several new counties created and the six that make up Northern Ireland superseded by 11 local government districts, the counties in Gaelic games have remained largely unchanged.

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However, the county as used in Gaelic games does not always and everywhere cover precisely the same territory as the traditional county. Particularly in the first 50 years of the Association but also in more recent times, there are many examples of clubs based in one of the administrative counties being allowed to participate in the leagues or championships of a neighbouring county. There are also instances where the official county boundary does not coincide precisely with the county as used in Gaelic games, for example where a club is based on a parish that crosses the county border. While in most cases the name of the county as used in Gaelic games is the same as that of the current or former administrative county, there have been exceptions: Derry has never used the official county name of Londonderry, and the board of the county then officially known as Queen's County changed its name in 1907 to Leix and Ossary, later becoming Laois. Each county board is responsible for organising GAA club fixtures within the county, and for the promotion and development of Gaelic games and the other objectives of the Association.

The county can also refer to the inter-county teams fielded by each county board. While in general any county, and only a county, is eligible to compete in the provincial and national championships and leagues, and almost all do so, again there can be anomalies: in the National Hurling League, for example, a team representing Fingal — a sub-region of the GAA county of Dublin, corresponding to the modern administrative county of Fingal — previously competed against other counties.

Since the inception of the county system, there have been changes to the respective regions of control of the overseas units. In Ireland the concept of the county is very strong and changing the county boundary is extremely controversial. In 2002 a proposal to divide Dublin in two was quickly and strongly opposed. [1]

List of every county board

The following is a list of the 32 county boards in Ireland and the 14 county boards outside of Ireland.

County boards in Ireland

Listed below are the 32 county boards based in Ireland and the provincial council to which each is affiliated to. Connacht have five affiliated county boards, Leinster have twelve, Munster have six and Ulster have nine. Also provided is a map showing the location of the province, i.e. north, south, east, west.

Provinces of Ireland location map.svg
Coat of arms of Leinster.svg
Coat of arms of Connacht.svg
Coat of arms of Ulster.svg
Coat of arms of Munster.svg
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Provinces of Ireland
BoardIrish name [2] Province
Antrim Aontroim
(Contae Aontroma)		 Ulster
Armagh Ard Mhacha
(Contae Ard Mhacha)		 Ulster
Carlow Ceatharlach
(Contae Cheatharlach)		 Leinster
Cavan An Cabhán
(Contae an Chabháin)		 Ulster
Clare An Clár
(Contae an Chláir)		 Munster
Cork Corcaigh
(Contae Chorcaí)		 Munster
Derry [lower-alpha 1] Doire
(Contae Dhoire)		 Ulster
Donegal Dún na nGall
(Contae Dhún na nGall)		 Ulster
Down An Dún
(Contae an Dúin)		 Ulster
Dublin Áth Cliath
(Contae Átha Cliath)		 Leinster
Fermanagh Fear Manach
(Contae Fhear Manach)		 Ulster
Galway Gaillimh
(Contae na Gaillimhe)		 Connacht   
Kerry Ciarraí
(Contae Chiarraí)		 Munster
Kildare Cill Dara
(Contae Chill Dara)		 Leinster
Kilkenny Cill Chainnigh
(Contae Chill Chainnigh)		 Leinster
Laois Laois
(Contae Laoise)		 Leinster
Leitrim Liatroim
(Contae Liatroma)		 Connacht
Limerick Luimneach
(Contae Luimnigh)		 Munster
Longford An Longfort
(Contae an Longfoirt)		 Leinster
Louth Lú
(Contae Lú)		 Leinster
Mayo Maigh Eo
(Contae Mhaigh Eo)		 Connacht
Meath An Mhí
(Contae na Mí)		 Leinster
Monaghan Muineachán
(Contae Mhuineacháin)		 Ulster
Offaly Uíbh Fhailí
(Contae Uíbh Fhailí)		 Leinster
Roscommon Ros Comáin
(Contae Ros Comáin)		 Connacht
Sligo Sligeach
(Contae Shligigh)		 Connacht
Tipperary Tiobraid Árann
(Contae Thiobraid Árann)		 Munster
Tyrone Tír Eoghain
(Contae Thír Eoghain)		 Ulster
Waterford Port Láirge
(Contae Phort Láirge)		 Munster
Westmeath An Iarmhí
(Contae na hIarmhí)		 Leinster
Wexford Loch Garman
(Contae Loch Garman)		 Leinster
Wicklow Cill Mhantáin
(Contae Chill Mhantáin)		 Leinster

County boards outside of Ireland

Listed below are the 14 county boards outside of Ireland and the provincial council to which each is affiliated to. Seven county boards are affiliated to Britain and three county boards are affiliated to North America (an unofficial province). The remaining four county boards are not affiliated to any.

BoardIrish nameProvince
Asia An Áise
(Contae na hÁise)
Australasia An Astráil
(Contae na hAstráile)
Canada Ceanada
(Contae Ceanada)		 North America
Europe Eoraip
(Contae Eoraip)
Gloucestershire Chontae Gloucester Britain
Hertfordshire Britain
Lancashire Lancasír Britain
London Londain
(Contae Londain)		 Britain
Middle EastAn Meánoirthear
(Contae an Mheán-Oirthir)
New York Nua Eabhrac
(Contae Nua Eabhrac)		 North America
Scotland Albain
(Contae na hAlban)		 Britain
United States Stáit Aontaithe Mhéiriceá
(Contae Stáit Aontaithe Mheiriceá)		 North America
Warwickshire Britain
Yorkshire Britain

County teams

Counties contesting the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (light colours), All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (dark colours), or both (other colours); however, almost all counties contest both the National Football League and the National Hurling League. Gaelic Games County Map.svg
Counties contesting the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (light colours), All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (dark colours), or both (other colours); however, almost all counties contest both the National Football League and the National Hurling League.

40 of the 46 national and overseas county teams currently compete in the Hurling and Football Championships.

GAA countyProvinceDominant sportHurling ChampionshipFootball Championship
AntrimUlster Hurling Liam MacCarthy Cup Tailteann Cup
ArmaghUlster Football Nicky Rackard Cup Sam Maguire Cup
CarlowLeinster Hurling Joe McDonagh Cup Tailteann Cup
CavanUlster Football Lory Meagher Cup Tailteann Cup
ClareMunster Hurling Liam MacCarthy Cup Sam Maguire Cup
CorkMunster Dual Liam MacCarthy Cup Sam Maguire Cup
Derry [lower-alpha 2] Ulster Football Christy Ring Cup Sam Maguire Cup
DonegalUlster Football Nicky Rackard Cup Sam Maguire Cup
DownUlster Dual Joe McDonagh Cup Tailteann Cup
DublinLeinster Dual Liam MacCarthy Cup Sam Maguire Cup
FermanaghUlster Football Nicky Rackard Cup Tailteann Cup
GalwayConnacht Dual Liam MacCarthy Cup Sam Maguire Cup
GloucestershireBritain Football Do not compete All-Ireland JFC
HertfordshireBritain Football Do not compete All-Ireland JFC
KerryMunster Football Joe McDonagh Cup Sam Maguire Cup
KildareLeinster Football Joe McDonagh Cup Sam Maguire Cup
Kilkenny [lower-alpha 3] Leinster Hurling Liam MacCarthy Cup All-Ireland JFC
LaoisLeinster Dual Joe McDonagh Cup Tailteann Cup
LancashireBritain Hurling Lory Meagher Cup All-Ireland JFC
LeitrimConnacht Football Lory Meagher Cup Tailteann Cup
LimerickMunster Hurling Liam MacCarthy Cup Tailteann Cup
LondonBritain Dual Christy Ring Cup Tailteann Cup
LongfordLeinster Football Lory Meagher Cup Tailteann Cup
LouthLeinster Football Nicky Rackard Cup Sam Maguire Cup
MayoConnacht Football Christy Ring Cup Sam Maguire Cup
MeathLeinster Football Christy Ring Cup Tailteann Cup
MonaghanUlster Football Lory Meagher Cup Sam Maguire Cup
New YorkNorth America Football Do not compete Tailteann Cup
OffalyLeinster Dual Joe McDonagh Cup Tailteann Cup
RoscommonConnacht Football Nicky Rackard Cup Sam Maguire Cup
ScotlandBritain Football Do not compete All-Ireland JFC
SligoConnacht Dual Christy Ring Cup Sam Maguire Cup
TipperaryMunster Hurling Liam MacCarthy Cup Tailteann Cup
TyroneUlster Football Christy Ring Cup Sam Maguire Cup
WarwickshireBritain Hurling Lory Meagher Cup All-Ireland JFC
WaterfordMunster Hurling Liam MacCarthy Cup Tailteann Cup
WestmeathLeinster Dual Liam MacCarthy Cup Sam Maguire Cup
WexfordLeinster Hurling Liam MacCarthy Cup Tailteann Cup
WicklowLeinster Dual Nicky Rackard Cup Tailteann Cup
YorkshireBritain Football Do not compete All-Ireland JFC

County teams outside of Ireland

Counties as used in Gaelic games outside Ireland cover large geographic non-traditional areas which are not considered as counties in any other context. For example, Scotland is a county for GAA purposes, as is London, while the remaining counties of Great Britain cover wider areas than their names suggest. The Hertfordshire County Board, for example, oversees clubs in Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Oxfordshire; Gloucestershire GAA reaches into South Wales, Warwickshire GAA includes Staffordshire and Birmingham, and so on. [3] There are also "county boards" for Australasia, Canada, New York, the rest of United States, Europe and Asia, while other overseas GAA regions such as the Cayman Islands operate with their own structures not including county boards. [4]

London county teams

London county football team competes in the National Football league, Connacht Senior Football Championship, All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and Tailteann Cup. London county hurling team competes in the National Hurling League, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and Christy Ring Cup.

Greatest Football achievement: Runners-up of the 2013 Connacht Senior Football Championship.

Greatest Hurling achievement: Winners of the 1901 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

New York county teams

New York enters a county team in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and won its first game in the 2023 Connacht football championship vs Leitrim after more than 20 years of trying. They also enter the Tailteann Cup. New York last entered the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship in 2006.

Greatest Football achievement: Semi-finalists of the 2023 Connacht Senior Football Championship.

Greatest Hurling achievement: Runners-up of the 2006 Ulster Senior Hurling Championship.

Warwickshire county teams

Warwickshire county hurling team competes in the National Hurling League, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and Lory Meagher Cup. Their football team competes in the All-Britain Junior Football Championship.

Greatest Football achievement: Winning two All-Britain Junior Football Championships in a row in 1968 and 1969.

Greatest Hurling achievement: Winners of the 2017 Lory Meagher Cup.

Lancashire county teams

Lancashire county hurling team competes in the National Hurling League, All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and Lory Meagher Cup. Their football team competes in the All-Britain Junior Football Championship.

Greatest Football achievement: Winning four All-Britain Junior Football Championships in a row between 2010 and 2013.

Greatest Hurling achievement: Semi-finalists of the 1913 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship.

Other British county teams

Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Scotland and Yorkshire compete in the All-Britain Junior Football Championship.

Inactive county teams

As of 2023, no team from continental Europe, Canada, the rest of the United States, Middle East, Asia or Australasia competes against the counties of Ireland in any of the Gaelic games.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Derry represents County Londonderry (see Derry-Londonderry name dispute) — the GAA only uses the name Derry.
  2. ↑ Derry represents County Londonderry (see Derry-Londonderry name dispute) — the GAA only uses the name Derry.
  3. ↑ Kilkenny no longer fields a football team.

Related Research Articles

The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, known simply as the All-Ireland Championship, is an annual inter-county hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest-tier competition for inter-county hurling in Ireland and has been contested in every year except one since 1887.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cavan GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland

The Cavan County Board or Cavan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland, and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games in County Cavan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derry GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body

The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in County Londonderry in Northern Ireland. The county board is also responsible for the Derry county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louth GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland

The Louth County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Louth GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Louth. The county board is also responsible for the Louth county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Longford GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland

The Longford County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Longford GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Longford. The county board is also responsible for the Longford county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galway GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland

The Galway County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Galway GAA are one of the 32 county boards in Ireland; they are responsible for Gaelic games in County Galway, and for the Galway county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyrone GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body

The Tyrone County Board, or Tyrone GAA, is one of the 32 county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland, and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fermanagh GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body

The Fermanagh County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Fermanagh GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sligo GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland

The Sligo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Sligo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Sligo. The county board is also responsible for the Sligo county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leitrim GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland

The Leitrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Leitrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Leitrim. The county board is also responsible for the Leitrim inter-county teams. The county football team play in the Connacht Senior Football Championship and compete in Division 4 of the National Football League. Considered "Connacht's traditional minnows" and "one of the GAA's Cinderella counties", Leitrim are never seriously seen as likely to win a major title. They have won the Connacht Senior Football Championship on two occasions, the first in 1927 and their second in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mayo GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Ireland

The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monaghan GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body

The Monaghan County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Monaghan GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Monaghan and the Monaghan county football and hurling teams. Separate county boards are responsible for the promotion & development of handball, camogie and ladies' football within the county, as well as having responsibility for their representative county players/teams. The current team sponsor of Monaghan GAA is Investec.

The British Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Britain GAA is the only provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association outside the island of Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in Great Britain. The board is also responsible for the British Gaelic football, hurling, camogie and ladies' Gaelic football inter-county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York GAA</span> County board of the Gaelic Athletic Association

The New York County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association, or New York GAA is one of the three county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in North America, and is responsible for Gaelic games in the New York metropolitan area. The county board is also responsible for the New York county teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hertfordshire GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body in the UK

The Hertfordshire County Board or Hertfordshire GAA is one of the seven county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Great Britain, and is responsible for the administration of Gaelic games in Hertfordshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scotland GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body in Scotland

The Scotland Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or Scotland GAA is one of the county boards of the GAA outside Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in Scotland. The county board is also responsible for the Scottish county teams. The Board participates with London, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, Lancashire, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire under the British GAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lancashire GAA</span> Gaelic games governing body in the UK

The Lancashire County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), or Lancashire GAA, is one of the county boards outside Ireland and is responsible for the running of Gaelic games in the North West of England and on the Isle of Man. With Scotland, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire, London and Yorkshire, the board makes up the British Provincial Board. The Lancashire board oversees the Lancashire Junior Championship, the Lancashire Junior League, and the first and second division of the Pennine League.

GAA Beo is the principal Gaelic games programme of Irish language-broadcaster TG4.

The Sligo county hurling team represents Sligo in hurling and is governed by Sligo GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Christy Ring Cup and the National Hurling League. It formerly competed in the abolished Connacht Senior Hurling Championship, finishing as runner-up in 1900 and 1906.

References

  1. ↑ "Whelan slams Dublin split". BBC News. 27 January 2002. Retrieved 22 December 2006.
  2. ↑ Gasaitéar na hÉireann / Gazetteer of Ireland. Dublin: Brainse Logainmneacha na Suirbhéireachta Ordanáis / Placenames Branch of the Ordnance Survey. 1989. ISBN   978-0-7076-0076-5.
  3. ↑ Gaelic Athletic Association, International GAA County Boards: Retrieved http://www.gaa.ie/about-the-gaa/gaa-overseas/ Archived 7 August 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ "GAA Overseas Units official booklet" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
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