Dr. Douglas Hyde, President of Ireland, who had been a patron of the Gaelic Athletic Association for over thirty years, ceased to hold the title as from Saturday last, when the Central Council of the Association adopted a ruling to that effect.
The chairman was Mr. P.M. Chance, Cavan, and a request was considered from the Galway County Board "to have the position of a patron, whose official duties might bring him into conflict with the fundamental rules of the Association, considered."
On November 13th President Hyde, accompanied by Mr. de Valera and Mr. Oscar Traynor, Minister for Posts and Telegraphs, attended the international association football game between Ireland and Poland at Dalymount Park, Dublin. Under the rules of the Gaelic Athletic Association, association football is declared one of the "foreign" games that cannot be patronised by the Association's supporters.
The Irish Times,
December 19th, 1938.
