THE COUNTIES

AFTER the club, the county unit is the most commonly recognised sub-section of the GAA. The inter-county rivalries spawned between different hurling and football teams was one of the reasons for the rapid growth of the Association after its

formation in Thurles, Co Tipperary in 1884. All 32 counties are represented by a county board which is charged with overseeing all activity within that county unit. In addition to organising county teams, the county board oversees general activity across their county.