GAA

GAA President Jarlath Burns insists the process of integration between Gaelic games’ three bodies is not over but the key is to ensure the outcome is “sustainable and robust”.

Last week, former Irish president Dr Mary McAleese stepped down from the role as chairperson of the steering group to oversee the planned merger of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Camogie Association and Ladies Gaelic Football Association [LGFA] with the 2027 deadline for completion set to be missed.

Dr McAleese said she was “dubious” whether there was real desire from the GAA to make it happen but the current GAA president – speaking at the Hurling Development Committee’s starter pack launch for 2026 in Belcoo – denies the issue is dead in the water.

“There was an idea going around last week that integration had stopped – it hasn’t,” Burns told BBC Sport NI’s Mark Sidebottom.

“Integration is happening every day. We see examples here where boys and girls are playing hurling and camogie together. That’s going on in every club every day and every decision we make at the moment, we’re making it from an integrated perspective.

“The three organisations are still very committed to integration, but we want to achieve an integration that is sustainable and robust, and something we can be very proud of.”

Last week, GAA director general Tom Ryan said the initial timescale had proven to be “a little bit too ambitious” and Burns says the missed deadline is “disappointing”, it “doesn’t end the process”.

“We will get back up and running and we have already been in talks with Camogie [Association] and LGFA last week,” he confirmed.

“We will continue to do so until we get the integration where every boy and every girl has the equality of opportunity and can enjoy Gaelic games in the future.”

Jim McGuinness is to remain Donegal senior football manager for the 2027 season.

It will be his fourth year at the helm during his second stint in charge of the Ulster county.

Meanwhile Mickey McCann will continue to manage the county’s senior hurlers for a further two years, having been in the role since 2018.

Donegal GAA confirmed the news on social media on Monday evening.

“Following a meeting of the County Committee, Donegal confirm the appointment of Michael McCann as Senior Hurling Manager for a two year term and Jim McGuinness as Senior Football manager for a one year term,” it read.

During his second term in charge, McGuinness has helped guide Donegal to back-to-back Ulster titles in 2024 and 2025 and an All-Ireland final appearance in 2025.

The 53-year-old led Donegal to a Football League Division One final success over Kerry in March this year but the county’s championship season was a disappointing one.

They were defeated by Down in the quarter-finals of the Ulster SFC and went down to Dublin after extra-time in Round 3 of the All-Ireland series.

McGuinness, who led Donegal to the All-Ireland in 2012 in his first spell as manager, initially returned on a three-year-deal with an option of a fourth.