Some rejected his speech as too political but Burns recognises the association’s power and at the
Jarlath Burns speaking after Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
When GAA president Jarlath Burns stood up to speak at the end of last Sunday’s All-Ireland hurling final, his words wouldn’t have surprised those who know him.
When he became president, he stepped aside as principal of St Paul’s school in Bessbrook, South Armagh, a school with 1,700 pupils. It’s a role that taught him how to send a message to many audiences simultaneously. His words at Croke Park also felt like a display of authority in the truest sense, a moment when it was time for the adults to have their say.