Cooney confirmed as next GAA President

Christy Cooney is to become the next President of the GAA after delegates at Congress 2008 in Sligo gave him their vote ahead of Liam O'Neill and Sean Fogarty.

Cooney, who will take over as President in April 2009, picked up 172 first-preference votes.

Liam O'Neill polled 112 votes while National Schools chairman Sean Fogarty came in third place with 26 votes.

It's a case of second time lucky for the Youghal clubman who went up against Nickey Brennan two years ago only to lose by  just 17 votes.

The 55-year-old former chairman of Cork and Munster GAA has been involved in the association for 30 years.

He  is currently chair of the national coaching and games development committee and was also a member of the strategic review committee.

Cooney's work as assistant director general at FÁS made him an ideal candidate for the latter, which focused on reawakening the GAA in urban areas like the capital and other rapidly expanding communities.  This remains high on his agenda.

He was staunchly opposed to foreign codes being allowed entry to Croke Park prior to the relaxing of Rule 42 and he does not envisage a situation in which the GAA would lease out Croke Park in the future, believing such a practice would dilute the cultural identity of the GAA and Croke Park.

Cooney puts great stock in the democratic nature of the GAA and believes the association has a huge role to play in promoting equality, cultural identity and the family unit.

Regardless of his personal view on any one issue he has stated that the Congress's decision on association policy must be "strictly adhered to, with no deviation".

Cooney has welcomed the player grants scheme, which GAA delegates passed today, but maintains that it would have been preferable if the money went to a players' fund rather than to the individual.

This, he has said, leaves the GAA vulnerable if the Government grants dry up.

The Corkman has admitted an initial mistrust for the Gaelic Players' Association (GPA) but has since softened that stance. He is adamant that pay-for-play will never become a reality under any circumstances but believes the GPA assurances that it is not on their agenda.

Cooney will be the first Cork president since Con Murphy served the association between 1976 and 1979.