The GAA has announced the recipients for Gradaim an Uachtaráin

2025. These prestigious annual awards, organised with the support

of AIB and broadcast by TG4, are made by GAA President Jarlath

Burns to acknowledge outstanding commitment and long service

across the club and county network.

The awards are a cross-section of people who have shared the

common theme of providing extraordinary service and commitment

to the development of Gaelic games.

There are provincial, educational, and Irish language awards, as well

as awards recognising contributions made to Ladies football,

Camogie, World GAA, and Handball. The Dermot Earley Family Award

recipients are The McGrath Family from Sarsfields GAA Club, Galway.

Uachtarán CLG Jarlath Burns said: “It is often said that while the GAA

is about Games, it is, in truth, always about people. These awards

present us with an opportunity to shine a light on a small group of

inspirational people who in their own right are ambassadors for the

thousands of volunteers who power the GAA.

“I am delighted that for my first Gradaim an Uachtaráin we have

assembled a diverse list of people who each have made a lasting

contribution to ensuring that the promotion of Gaelic games go from

strength to strength. I congratulate all of our worthy recipients and

wish to acknowledge the support of TG4 and AIB for this scheme.”

The GAA President’s Awards (Gradaim an Uachtaráin 2024) will be

broadcast this Friday night live on TG4 at 7.30pm

In a lifetime of service to Education and by extension the GAA,

Seamus Woods’ commitment can be characterised by his devotion

to improving the lot of others. He has always adhered to the maxim

“If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing well”. He joined Omagh

CBS as a pupil in 1959 and as a goalkeeper, was the youngest

member of the historic 1963 D’Alton Cup team, the school’s first

success in College’s football.

He continued his Gaelic career at Queen’s University, Belfast where

he lined out at full forward on the Sigerson side which lost the 1970

final to UCC, but it also introduced him to the world of administration

as Chairman of Queen’s GFC. His displays at full forward also

brought him to the attention of the Tyrone selectors, where he had

the honour of lining out for his county, before playing for the

Carrickmore side.

His return to Omagh CBS in 1971, as a teacher of Latin and Irish, saw

him throw himself readily into coaching MacRory Cup and other

football sides. He continued in this role until his retirement in 2004.

With his brothers, he lined out for Naoimh Colmcille, Carrickmore

and as a full forward, and as Club Chairman, was a member of the

victorious treble winning Championship winning side of 77, 78 and

79.

His marriage in 1974 to Teresa had seen him moving to Clanabogan

and having kept his links with Carrickmore over many years both on

the field and in the committee room, he threw his efforts behind his

new club, Drumragh Sarsfields in 2004 where he had coaching

success with men’s and LGFA teams.

His attention to detail and work as secretary of Ulster Colleges

earned national recognition and in 2009-12, he was appointed to

chair both the CCCC and the Central Referee Appointments

Committee and was chair of the Post Primary Schools Committee for

2015-21.

A key architect behind the successful implementation of the GAA

Future Leaders Transition Year Programme, he was also instrumental

in the merging of Ulster Colleges and Ulster Vocational Schools and

produced a packed programme of games for young people in

second level.

Just as he did this during his teaching career in Omagh CBS, he

continues in similar vein today in all of the committees he works on

and with all the volunteers on those bodies who he comes in contact with. To emphasise this fact, he is currently President of Carrickmore and chairman of Drumragh Sarsfields.