Roche aiming to be next GAA President

March 1978

A Wexfordman bids at the weekend to become only the third from the county to head the country’s largest sporting organisation – the Gaelic Athletic Association.

For when delegates from all over the country meet for the GAA’s annual Congress in Ballina, Co. Mayo, on Sunday, one of the candidates before them for the Presidency will be that of Wexford town businessman and former Leinster Council Chairman, Mr Jimmy Roche.

And Jimmy will not end up amongst the also-rans in this contest, for experienced GAA officials believe him to be among the favourites for the position, along with Dublin’s Jimmy Grey; Paddy McFlynn from Down; and T.P. O’Reilly, well-known District Justice, and one of the former greats of Cavan football.

Should Jimmy Roche win Sunday’s contest, he will become President elect of the Association and will not take over from Cork’s Con Murphy until Easter 1979. He would then rule the roost for three years and his name would go into the history books beside two other Wexfordmen who held the post with distinction – the late Mr P.D. Breen, Castlebridge, and the late Mr Michael Kehoe N.T., Glynn.

Jimmy Roche has served the GAA at county, provincial and national level for many years. A member of the famous Sarsfields club, he played senior football for Wexford for many yeaars. Administrative positions he has held include Chairman of the County Football Board, County Board Treasurer, County Board Chairman, County Registrar, and Chairman of the Leinster Council. He has also sat on a number of committees at the Association’s H.Q.

A successful painting contractor, Jimmy Roche also runs a well-stocked DIY Centre at Cinema Lane in Wexford, and is a former President of the Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Wexford Main Street Traders Association.