Jack Boothman
John Henry "Jack" Boothman(12 October 1935 – 10 May 2016)[1]was the 31stpresidentof theGaelic Athletic Association(GAA) between 1994 and 1997. He was an active member of his localBlessington GAAclub inCounty Wicklow.[2]
He was chairman of theLeinster Councilfrom 1987 until 1989.[3]
He was elected as president of the Association and took up the position in 1994. Boothman championed the abolition ofRule 21,which debarred members of the British security forces from joining the GAA.[4]
However, Boothman opposed the opening up ofCroke Parkto international soccer and rugby, feeling that it would be a "disastrous mistake" for the GAA to benefit competing sports so significantly.[2]
A member of theChurch of Irelandand past pupil ofThe King's Hospital, Dublin,Boothman was the firstProtestantpresident of the GAA.[5]Until his death at the age of 80 in 2016, he still held the position of President within his own local club.
References[edit]
- ^Jack Boothman: first Protestant president of the GAAThe Irish Times
- ^ab"Boothman warns of dangers".BBC. 23 January 2004.Retrieved26 November2020.
- ^Chairmen Pics
- ^Irish ExaminerArchived2005-01-27 at theWayback Machine,17 November 2001 "Taoiseach urges GAA to abolish Rule 21" ]
- ^BOOTHMAN SEEKS TO ESTABLISH GAA DOMINANCE,BNET
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