Professor Anne Looney has carved a niche for herself in the GAA history books as the first female Presidential appointee to the Association’s Management Committee.

New President Larry McCarthy has nominated Professor Looney – who is currently Executive Dean of DCU’s Institute of Education – to the all-powerful committee.

McCarthy indicated that he intends to have female representation on all central committees and, when reflecting on the fact that she is the first female to receive a nomination from a President, the Dublin season ticket holder told GAA.ie: “Yes, it's very positive but it's probably long overdue.

“A number of women in the GAA at different levels and in different organisations and associate different codes have been in touch with me in recent days to say, “Well done, it's great, but it is long overdue”.

“So, I think it's really a glass ceiling shattered, which is positive. I recognise too that it's only the beginning and that into the future people will look back and say it was ground-breaking of Larry to take that decision because very often these things don't happen naturally, somebody has to make a decision or make an intervention in any kind of area of equality.

“Larry showed leadership here and made that intervention and I think that is significant for women, for men, and for diversity in the GAA more broadly.

“It puts a great responsibility on me and on the other women appointed to the other committees to ensure that we bring our professionalism and commitment to the GAA, but also our unique perspective and insight into the deliberations over the next three years as well.”

Professor Anne Looney hopes being the first ever female Presidential appointee to the GAA's Management Committee will help accelerate the Association's evolution into a more gender-equal sporting body at committee level. #GAABelong #InternationalWomensDay

— The GAA (@officialgaa) March 8, 2021

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