Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is both very significant and particularly important. I congratulate Mr. Horan; his wife, Paula; the two lads and all of his friends and colleagues. It is a very significant occasion for all of us and we are very privileged that he is here. Cuirim míle fáilte roimh chuile dhuine de na Teachtaí Dála, comhairleoirí contae, agus cairde an uachtaráin atá anseo. The place is full in great recognition of Mr. Horan, his family and Cumann Lúthchleas Gael.

I wanted to find out what had made a Dub so successful. Perhaps it all goes back to Paula and County Meath. I met the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, about an hour and a half ago. He was on his way in travelling abroad and told me to say, "Good luck." He added that he thought Mayo would be in the all-Ireland final this year. As a west of Ireland man, I would not begrudge him that. In fact, he told me that Paula was from Mayo. He was obviously mistaken.

I acknowledge the team and staff in Páirc an Chrócaigh, as well as the staff who are actively involved in developing Cumann Lúthchleas Gael throughout the country. It is a volunteer and very strong community organisation. The president and I have been on the board together at Páirc an Chrócaigh for almost five years and worked hard. In my experience, the staff in Páirc an Chrócaigh are second to none. I have not seen staff as professional in any business or organisation in which I have been involved. Mr. Alan Milton and the team are first class.

There are 2,200 clubs in Ireland and 400 abroad. The clubs outside Ireland are actually growing faster than those in Ireland. There is a relationship between GAAGO and RTÉ and on any Sunday up to 750,000 people sign in to watch games. Some 1.5 million attended championship matches in 2017. The amount of work Mr. Horan and his team are doing is absolutely phenomenal and the key to the fabric of the country.

I am privileged to be associated with Cumann Lúthchleas Gael because it carries many of the key values of Irish people, namely, inclusiveness and our culture, language, tradition and sports. Perhaps above all, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael is wonderful for people who are not active in the game or who may never have played it at a high level, yet there is a place for them in the organisation and they are involved.

Croke Park on All-Ireland Sunday is amazing and my colleague, Senator O'Mahony, gave great pride and satisfaction to us in Galway back in the day by winning All-Irelands. Thankfully, two years ago, Senator Coffey had hung up his boots and was not playing as corner-back for Waterford against Galway because otherwise we might have had a different result, but that is a story for another day. It is in the grassroots, the clubs and rural Ireland, as Senator Mark Daly noted earlier, that the GAA comes into its strength. It is all about inclusiveness, not exclusiveness. I strongly welcome the point that Mr. Horan emphasised about inclusiveness of females as well as males. We are very open to that and keen for that area to be fostered and developed.

In the two and a half years I have been a Senator, my greatest privilege has probably been to have been present today for Mr. Horan's address. Personally and professionally, he is a great leader of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, as was his predecessor, Mr. Aogán Ó Fearghaíl from County Cavan, who is another wonderful person with the proper passion, determination and commitment to our values.

A former good friend, colleague and previous uachtarán of Cumann Lúthchleas Gael, Mr. Joe McDonagh, was the first Galway man I saw with the All-Ireland medal proudly on his chest. I am delighted that the Joe McDonagh Cup for the development of hurling has been named in honour of him.

Táim an buíoch díot, a Chathaoirligh, as an gcuireidh a thabhairt dár n-uachtarán. Mr. Horan is the first GAA president to address the Seanad, which is a tremendous privilege. I wish him every success in the future.