Wexford’s Derek Kent chosen as next GAA president

Wexford's Derek Kent has been elected the next GAA President at the association's Annual Congress at Croke Park this evening.

The Taghmon-Camross clubman received 169 out of the 277 delegate votes, beating Tipperary's Ger Ryan and John Murphy of Sligo on the first count.

Kent will succeed outgoing President Jarlath Burns next February.

He will be the first Wexford president of the GAA since Michael Kehoe in 1952.

Addressing delegates after the vote, Kent said: “I will always do the right thing for the GAA.”

The contentious issue of the GAA retaining Allianz as sponsors was raised by director general Tom Ryan in his speech.

“I do think we need to bear in mind where our responsibilities begin and end as an organisation.

“We are motivated by the right things and we do want to do the right things and we are a force for good in communities and all that is really important.

“We are here this weekend to guide and lead the GAA, nothing more and nothing less. The aim of the association is to promote Gaelic sports in our communities and every decision and every course of action that we take can only really be viewed through that lens – Gaelic games, hurling, football, rounders, handball.

“I know there are other issues in the world and they are actually more important issues than whether we play an All-Ireland final in August or July, there are a lot more important things to be considered.

“But there are other organisations and other agencies society trusts in managing those issues. Those are the agencies with the expertise and the authority to take action in those areas, we don’t.

“Our playing field is football and hurling and our responsibility is to mind the GAA – that means being careful about taking absolute decisions.”