A 30-week inter-county season is a workable compromise, says GAA director general Tom Ryan. As part of the agreement, the pre-season competitions would be discontinued, which has been opposed by the likes of the Connacht and Ulster councils. Ryan is hoping the slight amendment to the split season will be supported by counties at Congress on February 28. Ryan is also backing the amateur status review committee’s motion to introduce a GAA certification framework initially at inter-county level and their rewording of the amateur status rule in the Official Guide. We can achieve a framework of significant protections for the GAA’s amateur status.

Source: Irish Examiner February 12, 2026 16:08 UTC