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BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
All-Ireland finals won't move to August in 2026
GAA president Jarlath Burns has said the All-Ireland Football and Hurling finals will not move to August in 2026. Burns previously suggested the finals could move back to their traditional September slot, but has now said a decision on shifting the dates for the 2027 season will be made by his successor. Since 2022, the All-Ireland finals have been played in July. This year's hurling final will be played on 20 July with the football decider on 27 July. "This year it's out," Burns, whose presidency ends in 2027, told GAA+."Next year it's out as well. But it's going to be the next president who'll make that decision, whether or not we go into August. It's probably not going to be my decision."But I would be open to it, notwithstanding the health warning that comes with the whole area of starting the club championships."We were showing so little respect to the club player that there was literally a group set up called the Club Players Association and they had one word – fixtures."We solved that for them."Burns added that the staging of concerts in Croke Park must be taken into consideration. This year, Oasis will perform at the GAA's headquarters on 16 and 17 August."And I'm going to say the next thing without any apology – we also have concerts in this," said Burns. "Croke Park is now the major funding organ of the GAA – let's not forget that."This stadium is keeping our organisation financially viable."
The 42
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
'Croke Park is now the major funding organ of the GAA' - Burns rules out August finals
THERE WILL BE no shift of the All-Ireland finals to an August date for 2026, GAA President Jarlath Burns has insisted. Despite having previously floated the idea of the finals for football and hurling returning to their traditional September slots, Burns has passed that call onto his successor, citing the potential of concerts being hosted in Croke Park as a significant commercial driver for the GAA. 'This year it's out,' Burns said on the GAA's new broadcast channel, GAA+. Advertisement 'Next year it's out as well. But it's going to be the next president who'll make that decision, whether or not we go into August. It's probably not going to be my decision. 'But I would be open to it, notwithstanding the health warning that comes with the whole area of starting the club championships. 'We were showing so little respect to the club player that there was literally a group set up called the Club Players Association and they had one word – fixtures. 'We solved that for them.' He then admitted that staging of summer concerts in Croke Park takes precedence over staging the games. 'I'm going to say the next thing without any apology – we also have concerts in this. Croke Park is now the major funding organ of the GAA – let's not forget that,' he said. 'This stadium is keeping our organisation financially viable.' ** Check out the latest episode of The42′s GAA Weekly podcast here
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
No August date for All-Ireland finals in 2026
GAA president Jarlath Burns has stated that the All-Ireland finals will remain in July for 2026, adding that a future move to August will be a decision for his successor. The news comes after Burns had earlier floated the possibility of the football and hurling deciders returning to a conclusion in September. In his annual report, published in February, GAA director general Tom Ryan suggested that All-Ireland finals could edge back into early August in the future, saying: "There is a gathering mood to shuffle the finals back by a week or two, and that may well transpire in the future. Stretching the season out a little would be no bad thing – but I don't foresee a return to September." Speaking on the GAA's in-house broadcast platform, GAA+, Burns said any decision on whether the finals move to August in 2027 would be a job for whoever succeeds him as president. "This year it's out," he said. Next year it's out as well. But it's going to be the next president who'll make that decision, whether or not we go into August. It's probably not going to be my decision. "But I would be open to it, notwithstanding the health warning that comes with the whole area of starting the club championships. "We were showing so little respect to the club player that there was literally a group set up called the Club Players Association and they had one word – fixtures. "We solved that for them." The Armagh native also referenced concerts in Croke Park, which he said were an important economic driver for the association. "And I'm going to say the next thing without any apology – we also have concerts in this. Croke Park is now the major funding organ of the GAA – let's not forget that. "This stadium is keeping our organisation financially viable." Since 2022, All-Ireland finals have been played in July, with the calendar being rearranged around the split-season formula of reserved time for club and inter-county. While surveys indicate the split season is favoured by players, it has met opposition from supporters, as well as critics, who feel the GAA is losing promotional potential by concluding its most high-profile competitions in mid-summer. In 2026, the All-Ireland hurling final will take place on 19 July, the same day as the men's World Cup final in New Jersey, and also the last day of the Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale.
