Maurice Davin

Maurice Davin (29 June 1842 – 27 January 1927) was an Irish farmer who became co-founder of the Gaelic Athletic Association. He was also the first President of the GAA and the only man ever to serve two terms as president.

Sports Davin was born in Carrick-on-Suir, the son of John Davin and Bridget Davin and the eldest of 4 athlete brothers He became an extremely talented athlete and achieved international fame in the 1870s when he held numerous world records for running, hurdling, jumping and weight-throwing.

Maurice won the shot put and hammer throw titles at the 1881 AAA Championships and his brother Patrick Davin won the high jump and long jump events at the same AAA Championships.

GAA founding From 1887 Davin actively campaigned for a body to control Irish athletics. Athletics in Ireland at the time was controlled directly by an English association which excluded the masses from most competitions.

Davin wrote "the laws under which athletic sports are held in Ireland were designed mainly for the guidance of Englishmen, and they do not deal at all with the characteristic sports and pastimes of the Irish race. Irish football is a great game" he wrote, "but there are no rules for either hurling or football and they are often dangerous."

Legacy Many top games including the 1904 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final between Kilkenny and Cork were played on Davin's farm. The Davin Stand in Croke Park, Dublin is named in his honour, as are some GAA clubs throughout the country, including Carrick Davins in Tipperary.