John Dowling (18 November 1931 – 9 February 2002) was a Gaelic football and hurling referee, who served as the 29th

president President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university * President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...

of the

Gaelic Athletic Association The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA; ga, Cumann Lúthchleas Gael ; CLG) is an Irish international amateur sports, amateur sporting and cultural organisation, focused primarily on promoting indigenous Gaelic games and pastimes, which include t ...

(GAA). He was born in

Tullamore Tullamore (; ) is the county town of County Offaly in Ireland. It is on the Grand Canal, in the middle of the county, and is the fourth most populous town in the midlands region with 14,607 inhabitants at the 2016 census. The town retained ...

, County Offaly, and became the first Offaly man to hold that office.

Career

Dowling refereed five All-Ireland finals, including both hurling and football All-Ireland senior finals in 1960. That year he officiated Down's first All-Ireland SFC title win. Dowling refereed

Connacht Connacht ( ; ga, Connachta or ), is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms ( Uí Fiachrach, Uí Briúin, Uí Maine, Conmhaícne, and Del ...

Leinster Leinster ( ; ga, Laighin or ) is one of the provinces of Ireland, situated in the southeast and east of Ireland. The province comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Meath, Leinster and Osraige. Following the 12th-century Norman invasion of ...

, Munster and

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United Kin ...

finals as well as league finals. At his death, suddenly at the age of 71 in February 2002, he was described as "arguably the greatest ever GAA referee". He was part of the team that founded the original Tullamore Harriers Club. He went on to serve as club secretary, county secretary and chairman of the Leinster Provincial Council. In his time as county secretary, first the

Offaly county football team The Offaly county football team represents Offaly in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Offaly GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Irela ...

in the 1970s and then the

Offaly county hurling team The Offaly county hurling team represents Offaly in hurling and is governed by Offaly GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the Joe McDonagh Cup and the National Hurling League. Offaly's home ground is ...

in the 1980s came to prominence, with Dowling credited for his part in this. When Offaly defeated Kilkenny in the 1980

Leinster Senior Hurling Championship The Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship, known simply as the Leinster Championship, is an annual inter-county hurling competition organised by the Leinster Council of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). It is the highest inter-county hurl ...

final, Dowling was seen near

Damien Martin Damien Martin (born 2 October 1946) is an Irish former hurler who played as a goalkeeper for the Offaly senior hurling team. Born in Banagher, County Offaly, Martin first arrived on the inter-county scene when he first linked up with the Off ...

's goal during the second half, urging the team onwards to a first Leinster SHC title. From 1981 to 1983 he served as chairman of GAA's

Leinster Council The Leinster Council is a provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, rounders and handball in the province of Leinster. The Leinster Council has been partnered with the European County ...

. He was elected 29th

of the

, taking office in 1988 and serving until 1991. As GAA president he negotiated land to help develop Croke Park.

Personal life

From

, Dowling worked for An Post. Married to Mae, the couple had two sons and two daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dowling, John 1931 births 2002 deaths All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final referees All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final referees Chairmen of Gaelic games governing bodies Gaelic games club administrators Gaelic football referees Hurling referees Leinster Provincial Council administrators Offaly County Board administrators Sportspeople from Tullamore, County Offaly Presidents of the Gaelic Athletic Association Secretaries of county boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association