Departing Duffy did the GAA world some service

IF CHANGE truly is as good as a rest, then Páraic Duffy has certainly earned his retirement as the GAA’s top official. The director-general of the country’s biggest sporting organisation confirmed yesterday he will be stepping down from his role in March after 10 years in the hot seat. To paraphrase Charlie Haughey’s famous Othello quote in the Dáil, he has done the state of Gaelic Games “some service” and more. In fact, he has got an association – which many commentators criticise for its slowness to change – to adapt and move with the times.

Before he assumed his current role, he was chairman of the committee that proposed the first major change to the All-Ireland football championship in 100 years – the introduction of the qualifiers – and his willingness to engage in debate helped to get that over the line.

The former secondary school principal brought then-rebel players’ union the Gaelic Players Association into the official tent – avoiding major schisms in the process. He oversaw the controversial TV deal with Sky Sports and also put the GAA at the forefront of Ireland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup bid.

The Monaghan native’s political skills have been to the fore recently as he has overseen getting Gaelic football’s ‘Super 8s’ proposal and a new format for the All-Ireland hurling championship passed by Congress delegates.

Whether these changes stand the test of time is a matter of debate, but Duffy’s record isn’t.