LGFA on the brink of change as Míchéal Naughton steps down as president content

When Míchéal Naughton stepped into the role of LGFA President in 2021, he made it clear that his tenure would be about progress, unity, and ensuring the continued growth of the sport.   

Now, as he prepares to step down after four years at the helm this week at the LGFA National Congress in Letterkenny, he leaves behind an organisation poised on the brink of a historic integration with the GAA by 2027.  

It’s been a cornerstone of Naughton's leadership - the pursuit of integrating the LGFA with the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Camogie Association. The vision for a unified Gaelic games family is set for realisation.

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"It feels only like yesterday since we stood in Croke Park in 2024 to outline the vision of integration in where we will be one association in the GAA family by 2027," Naughton reflected at last weekend’s GAA Annual Congress in the Abbey Hotel.  

That vision has been a guiding force for Naughton, who has worked diligently to bring Ladies Gaelic Football further into the mainstream.   

Over the past half-century, the LGFA has gone from a niche, often dismissed sport to one with over 200,000 members, 1,100 clubs, and a thriving international presence.  

The journey toward integration has been collaborative. Former President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, chairs the Steering Group for Integration, emphasising that the future structure will be "based on One Association for all Gaelic games and built on the principle of equality".  

"In 2024 the LGFA celebrated 50 years in existence and when we gathered in Thurles last June, there was a great sense of achievement and emotion in the room," the Donegal County Councilor said.   

"So many people who had played key roles in the LGFA over the years were there to share their stories from humble beginnings 50 years ago to where we are now."  

There is a note of quiet pride in his words. Naughton, a Sligo native representing Donegal and Ulster, took office in 2021 with a clear mission — to champion one of the fastest-growing female sports in Europe.   

He had already left his mark at county level, guiding Donegal to All-Ireland Intermediate success in 2010 and a Division 2 league title in 2016. His leadership in the LGFA has been defined by a steady push towards greater collaboration with the GAA and the Camogie Association, a drive that will culminate in full integration within three years.  

"I truly enjoyed my time involved in the process where we have been truly constructive working alongside like-minded individuals, learning the work of our three associations. Things that we do, some of them similar, some things different, but the one thing we are all doing is promoting Gaelic Games."  

But the road to this point has not always been smooth. Naughton acknowledges the battles fought by those who came before him, and the resilience needed to bring Ladies Gaelic Football to where it is today.   

"Life was very different in Irish society 50 years ago. Women playing Gaelic football was frowned upon but we persisted. Would we have seen the rapid growth and development had we been in the GAA 50 years ago? I don’t believe so."  

Autonomy, he says, was crucial in the sport's development. It allowed the LGFA to tailor its growth, improve the game on its own terms, and challenge outdated perceptions.   

"It also allowed us to change the attitude of women playing football and it became the largest female sport in Irish society. It also allowed us to create our own history."  

Now, a new history is about to be written.   

"By now, the next chapter of history is about to begin as we prepare for the future in an integrated society. The new GAA can make games even stronger nationally and internationally. It is vital that we respect each other and listen to the views of all involved in all codes."  

That note of caution is telling. The path to integration will not be without obstacles, and Naughton knows that ensuring fairness and equality across all codes will require careful structuring.   

"There are going to be challenges along the way before we arrive at a place where everyone feels secure, but our future lies together and it is vital that we get our structure right from the beginning.  

“The one big thing that we have in the GAA and no money could pay for it is our volunteers. It’s the people that work on our grounds, on the four corners of this country and overseas that makes this association, which we are all so proud of and so glad to be a part of."  

As Naughton prepares to step away, he does so having helped guide the LGFA to the cusp of its biggest transformation yet. He came into the role with a clear goal of building bridges, and he leaves with those bridges firmly in place.