Dispute over Parklife: Jim Gavin against the former occupants of the President's residence, Áras an Uachtaráin

Sports-Loving Irish Presidents: A Look into the Past and Present

Ireland's Presidents have often had a passion for sports, with several of them being avid participants and supporters. Let's take a closer look at some of the sports-loving leaders of the past and present.

Eamon de Valera, Ireland's longest-serving President, was a rugby enthusiast who came close to earning an international cap for Ireland. His preference for rugby over other sports is well-documented. However, a cross-kick in a trial game for Munster might have cost him a place in the Ireland team.

Douglas Hyde, the first President of Ireland, was a patron of the GAA and gave his name to a county grounds in Roscommon. His involvement with the GAA, however, led to a controversy when he attended a soccer match, which was against the GAA's ban on participation in rival sports. The GAA considered banning and stripping Hyde of his position, but ultimately upheld the ban and he was not reinstated before his death in 1949.

Paddy Hillery, a former President of Ireland, was known for having a low golf handicap during his time in office. He won the Golf Links Cup in Lahinch in 1980, a major strokeplay event. It was reported that Hillery got his golf handicap down to 7 during his presidency, which was seen as evidence that the duties of the Presidency weren't terribly strenuous.

Michael D. Higgins, the current President of Ireland, is best known as a League of Ireland follower, particularly associated with Galway. He was a Maths teacher in Rockwell College in Tipperary in the early 1900s and was part of a team that reached the Munster Cup final in 1905. Higgins was President of Galway United before he became President of Ireland and was mayor of Galway during the club's FAI Cup final win in 1991. Unlike his predecessors, Michael D. Higgins was not known to have been a football player or official at an Irish football club before becoming President of Ireland.

Jim Gavin, a former Dublin football manager, is being considered by Fianna Fáil for the role of President. Gavin has maintained a business-like decorum and a presidential bearing throughout his career. He guided the Dubs to a historic five-in-a-row in the 2010s and spearheaded the committee which 'fixed' Gaelic football, a feat of legislative engineering.

Mary McAleese, a former President of Ireland, has a connection with the GAA as well. She played camogie as a girl growing up in Ardoyne and was a self-described "GAA groupie" in her late teens, with her husband being the captain of the Antrim minors. McAleese has been appointed as chairperson of the Steering Group on Integration, responsible for overseeing the integration of the GAA, the Camogie Association, and the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.

These sports-loving Presidents have left a lasting impact on Irish sports, and their passion for sports continues to inspire future generations.

Dispute over Parklife: Jim Gavin against the former occupants of the President's residence, Áras an Uachtaráin