Middle East GAA County Committee 2024/2025
September 24, 2024
Following our recent Middle East GAA County Convention with all clubs, we are delighted to announce our committee members for the year.
Chairperson - Gearóid Cronin is a member and previous Chairperson of Al Ain GAA club and is completing his 10th year in the Middle East region. He will complete his 3-year term as Chairperson at the end of this season and has previously served as Vice-Chairperson and Secretary of the Middle East County Board. He is also the current Vice-Chairperson of World GAA. Originally from Co. Mayo, his home club is Lahardane MacHales.
Vice-Chairperson - Robbie Corcoran is from New Ross, Co Wexford, and has been living and working in the UAE since 2017. Robbie joined RAK Ropairí upon arrival in the UAE, and has been Chairperson there for the last three years, while his home club is Gusserane O’Rahillys. Robbie served as Juvenile Development Officer on the MECB in 20222 before taking on the role of Vice-Chairperson last year, which he was re-elected to for the coming season.
Secretary – James O’Connell is originally from Macroom GAA in Cork and now involved with Jumeirah Gaels. He also coaches with Dubai Éire Óg. He works for Dell Technologies and has run the Customer Solution Centre in Dubai for the past 8 years.
Treasurer – Shane Durran is from Co. Kerry and his home club is Austin Stacks, Tralee. Shane has been playing football with the Arabian Celts, Bahrain, for the past six years and has been acting Treasurer for the past four. This is Shane’s second year on the Middle East GAA County Board, the first acting as treasurer.
Ladies Development Officer – Cliodhna Lafferty is from Louth and has been in the region for five years. This is her third year as Ladies’ Officer and she has really enjoyed her time on the board. She is also Secretary for Kerry Middle East GAA. Cliodhna’s goal is to try to promote the involvement of females in all aspects of the GAA from coaching and volunteering, to getting involved at board level in the years ahead.
Irish Language & Culture Officer – Ceislinn Nash is from Derry and she is really excited about working towards the development of the Irish Language in the Middle East. She is a teacher and has been living in Dubai for a year now. Ceislinn plays for Dubai Celts and this is her first year on the County Board.
Is as Doire í Ceislinn agus tá áthas uirthi bheith ábalta obair i dtreo fhorbairt na Gaeilge sa Mheánoirthear. Is múinteoir í agus tá sí ina cónaí i Dubai ar feadh bliana anois. Imríonn Ceislinn do Dubai Celts agus seo a chéad bhliain ar Bhord an Chontae.
Referee Officer – Seán McDonnell is from Killanny, Co. Monaghan and has been living in Sharjah since 2018. HE is the current Chairperson and also a playing member of Sharjah Gaels. This will be Sean’s fifth year on the Middle East County Board. He held the position of Coaching and Development Officer for three years and this is his second year in the role of Referee Administrator. Seán is passionate about refereeing and has been an active referee since 2010. Last year, we made great strides in the Middle East by organising a referee course and having many of these newly qualified referees officiating at our tournaments. Seán hopes to continue this positive growth into the 2024/25 season.
Juvenile Development Officer – Ger Madden is a founding member of Dubai Éire Óg and this is his second year on the Middle East County Board. He believes passionately in volunteerism and has a specific interest in promoting our Gaelic Games to young people and children. Ger’s home club is Naomh Mearnóg in Portmarnock and he is huge fan of the mighty Dubs!
Coaching Officer – John Daly is originally from Meath and in his sixth year in Al Ain, with the last four years as Chairperson of Al Ain GAA. John has been involved in all areas including playing, coaching, refereeing, and now on the County Board as Coaching Officer. Last year, John was also the Middle East Ladies football manager for the World Games in Derry.
Hurling Development Officer – Paul Teahan is a member of the Al Reem Shamrocks club based in Abu Dhabi and is entering his 10th year in the UAE. He is currently serving as the Chairperson of Al Reem Shamrocks, and this is his second year on the County Board. Paul is originally from Dublin and his home club is St. Judes.
Camogie Development Officer – Stephen Cleary is originally from St. Patrick’s GAA club in Tullow, Co. Carlow. He has been playing hurling with Dubai Celts for the past eight years and training the Dubai Celts camogie team for the past six years. It is his third year on the board as Camogie Development Officer. Stephen’s goal is to increase playing numbers and introduce more new people to the sport.
Thank you – In recognition of their efforts and dedication to Middle East GAA over the last number of years, outgoing committee members Seán O'Sullivan (Naomh Alee), Róisín Hoey (Al Ain GAA) and Trevor Buckley (Abu Dhabi na Fianna) were presented with a token of appreciation. Thank you, Róisín, Seán and Trevor, for all of your work while serving on the committee!
