A province is a geographic region within Gaelic games, consisting of several counties of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and originally based on the historic four provinces of Ireland as they were set in 1610.
Provincial councils A provincial council is responsible for the organisation of club and inter-county competitions such as the provincial championships, and the promotion of Gaelic games within its region. This region consists of several county boards. Listed below are the five existing provincial councils (four of which are on the island of Ireland). The British GAA is the fifth provincial council. To the right is a map showing the location of the provinces of Ireland, i.e. north, south, east, west. Another map below it indicates Britain in relation to Ireland.
Connacht Leinster Munster Ulster Britain
The ultimate goal of Gaelic Games Europe (the European county board) is to become a provincial council.
Gaelic games in North America acts as a provincial council for clubs and the three county teams in North America.
Provincial championships Championships Football Connacht Senior Football Championship Leinster Senior Football Championship Munster Senior Football Championship Ulster Senior Football Championship
Hurling Connacht Senior Hurling Championship Leinster Senior Hurling Championship Munster Senior Hurling Championship Ulster Senior Hurling Championship
A provincial championship is a competition in which counties compete against rival counties from the same province. All 4 Provinces of Ireland organise a provincial championship in both codes. However, there is variation. For instance, Antrim and Galway have competed in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship despite not being from Leinster. This is due to the strength of their teams with respect to other counties in their province. Teams representing London GAA, though based in Britain, have competed in the Connacht Senior Football Championship and Ulster Senior Hurling Championship (e.g. in 2010).
List of all provincial changes (years in province) Antrim Hurling (Leinster 2009-) Galway Hurling (Leinster 2009-) London Hurling (Leinster 2014-2015) Kerry Hurling (Leinster 2016-2017) Galway Hurling (Munster 1959-1969) London Hurling (Ulster 1998-2010) New York Hurling (Ulster 2000-2006) London Football (Connacht 1975-) New York Football (Connacht 1999-)
Setanta Sports broadcasts live provincial championships matches in Australia. Setanta Sports also provides matches from the provincial championships in Asia.
Roll of honour Football #CountyTitlesRunners-upMost Recent WinMost Recent Final1 Kerry8624202520252 Dublin6323202420243 Galway5134202520254 Mayo4836202120255 Cavan4023202020206 Cork3754201220217 Roscommon2425201920228 Meath2123201020259 Monaghan161220152021 Tyrone1672021202111 Armagh14232008202512 Kildare13232000202213 Down121519942017 Donegal12142025202515 Tipperary101820202020 Wexford101619452011 Antrim10919512009 Offaly1091997200619 Louth91620252025 Derry9102023202321 Laois6152003201822 Sligo31620072023 Kilkenny351911192224 Clare21519922025 Leitrim291994200026 Limerick11318962022 Waterford1918981960 Westmeath1420042016 Carlow1219441944 Longford111968196831 Fermanagh06 —2018 Wicklow01 —1897 London01 —2013
Provincial Hurling Champions YearConnachtLeinsterMunsterUlster2024—KilkennyLimerick—2023—KilkennyLimerick—2022—KilkennyLimerick—2021—KilkennyLimerick—2020—KilkennyLimerick—2019—WexfordLimerick—2018—GalwayCork—2017—GalwayCorkAntrim2016—KilkennyTipperaryAntrim2015—KilkennyTipperaryAntrim2014—KilkennyCorkAntrim2013—DublinLimerickAntrim Provincial Football Champions YearConnachtLeinsterMunsterUlster2025GalwayLouthKerryDonegal2024GalwayDublinKerryDonegal2023GalwayDublinKerryDerry2022GalwayDublinKerryDerry2021MayoDublinKerryTyrone2020MayoDublinTipperaryCavan2019RoscommonDublinKerryDonegal2018GalwayDublinKerryDonegal2017RoscommonDublinKerryTyrone2016GalwayDublinKerryTyrone2015MayoDublinKerryMonaghan2014MayoDublinKerryDonegal2013MayoDublinKerryMonaghan
References