Longford Officials

Longford County Board (Coiste Chontae an Longfort) was formed on 13th October 1889. The list below shows those who held key executive roles on the County Board from 1889 to 2023. From 1892 to 1903 the County Board (or County Council as it was known then) was not in existence and no official club competition took place in Longford in those years. The Chairperson role has been held by representatives from Ballymahon (3), Clonbroney (2), Rathcline (2) and 1 each from Abbeylara, Carrickedmond, Cashel, Clonguish, Drumlish, Forgney, Kenagh, Killoe Young Emmets, Legan Sarsfields and Mullinalaghta St. Columbas, while there have been 3 Chairs from Longford Town (1 each from Longford Slashers, Longford Wanderers and Longford Davitts clubs).

The position of Chairperson has been held by 25 different men since 1889, including 3 clergymen. The Chair has never been held by a club representative from the parishes of Ardagh-Moydow, Granard, Dromard, Edgeworthstown, Killashee or Colmcille (though Thomas O’Reilly who was a NT in Clonbroney was from Colmcille). Liam Mulvihill was just 24 years old when he was elected County Board Vice-Chairman in 1970 and just 25 when he became the youngest County Chair in the GAA the following year in 1971. There has never been an elected female Chair in Longford, though Bríd McGoldrick held the position of Chair temporarily from 9th November to 12th December 2019 following the resignation of the Chairperson. 2024 will mark 30 years since a representative from a North Longford club was elected Chair of the County Board.

The first Longford GAA Convention on 15th October 1890 included attendees from 25 clubs:

* In 2019 Eamon Reilly resigned as Chairperson on 9th November. Bríd McGoldrick stepped into the role until the convention on December 12th.

** In July 1967 the Chairman, Registrar, Central Council Delegate and Leinster Council Delegate all resigned. The Chairman had proposed a suspension for Bobby Burns following a disagreement that arose prior to the Leinster Championship semi-final vs Offaly. However before the seconded proposal could be carried, a counter amendment was proposed and carried by 24 votes to 4. The Chairman and others immediately resigned. This was followed by many of the senior players resigning in protest at the resignation of the board officials. Rev Canon McLoughlin was sent in as a mediator and the Central Council sent an observer to the next County Board meeting. The convention was brought forward to October 1967 and Jimmy Flynn was re-elected to the role of Chairman, with Seán Donnelly replacing Mattie Fox as Secretary. Sadly, Bobby Burns never played for Longford again and re-located to USA shortly thereafter. 

*** In 1896 a temporary committee was elected on 13th September 1896 with J.R. Dann as Secretary and delegates from Longford, Ardagh, Edgeworthstown and Ballymacormack clubs. The temporary committee had a mandate to contact various districts in an effort to establish clubs. However at the next meeting on 26th September, only four clubs sent delegates, but five were needed to elect a County Committee. Hence no County Committee was formed that year and no official competition took place in Longford in 1896. 

**** In 1889 the County Secretary JH Dunne resigned and was temporarily replaced by WJ Foran. 

Note: For 1919 & 1920 it is not entirely clear if the Chairman was Seamus O’Connor or Jimmy Toher.