David Gough

David Gough ( ; born 1983)

After initially opting out of refereeing during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gough (citing the GAA's summer Cúl Camps as offering encouragement due to the lack of cases there) returned to refereeing underage games; he then offered to make himself available for a Meath Senior Football Championship fixture when a colleague became unavailable. He went on to referee the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Mayo and Tipperary.

Gough refereed the 2023 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final, which was his 46th SFC game.

Personal life Gough is a teacher by profession. In 2015, the sport's governing body refused to allow him wear a rainbow wristband during a league match between Dublin and Tyrone at Croke Park, prompting media coverage, discussion, criticism and disappointment. Five years later, however, he and players from Mayo and Tipperary took part in the Rainbow Laces campaign during an All-Ireland SFC semi-final.

Gough plays tennis and is a member of Ashbrook tennis club in Dublin.

He has studied Latin.