Dessie Farrell

Dessie Farrell was the Chief Executive of the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), the representative body for Ireland's leading GAA players from 2003 until 2016. A founder member in 1999, Farrell has been a driving force in the development of the organisation which now has over 2,300 current playing members and a growing past player membership. In November 2000, the GPA's first annual general meeting took place in Killarney Co. Kerry, where Farrell was elected as Chairman. At the same inaugural event, former Kerry star Séamus Moynihan was elected Secretary, former Clare hurling star Jamesie O'Connor was elected President and Ciarán McArdle was elected Treasurer. Appointed CEO in 2003, Farrell oversaw the rapid growth of the organisation and helped negotiate Government funding for players in 2007. He was the players representative on the GAA's Central Council for five years and was also the lead negotiator in the GPA team which reached a formal agreement with the GAA in 2009; the GPA was ratified as the official representative body for county players at GAA Congress 2010. A long-term comprehensive agreement between both bodies was reached in November 2010 which now provides annual funding for the GPA's Player Development Programme designed to assist amateur county players with their off-field careers. Farrell stepped down as CEO of the GPA in December 2016.[1]

Farrell made his senior championship debut for Dublin against Offaly on 31 May[2] 1992 in Tullamore and went on to appear in an All-Ireland final later that season. A talented minor footballer who reached an All-Ireland minor final in 1988, Farrell had been called onto the senior panel in 1990 but suffered a serious setback when he ruptured his cruciate knee ligament in a club game and missed Dublin's epic series against Meath in 1991. However, having returned to action, he went on to enjoy an illustrious career in the famous blue jersey, winning an All-Ireland senior title, six Leinster Championships, a National League and also captaining the side for three years. He scored a total of 67 (3-58) points for Dublin in championship football. One of the high points of his career was his performance against Meath in the 1995 Leinster final where Dublin defeated their arch rivals Meath by ten points. Dublin went on to land their first All-Ireland title since 1983, with Dessie once again prominent in the final where he scored four points.

Farrell won an All-star, at centre-forward, for his role in Dublin's All Ireland win in 1995. He has six Leinster Senior Football Championship medals for Dublin, which he received in 1992, '93, '94, '95, 2002 and 2005 as well as a Leinster Minor and NFL title.[3] As a Dublin Senior footballer he played under seven different management teams, Gerry McCaul, Paddy Cullen, Pat O'Neill, Mickey Whelan, Tommy Carr, Tommy Lyons and Paul 'Pillar' Caffrey.

As well as representing Dublin football at Minor, U21 and Senior levels, he also captained the Dublin U21 hurlers in 1992. He was educated at St. Vincent's C.B.S., Glasnevin.

Detailed account of his playing career are recorded in his autobiography which was released on 30 November 2005, the same night that he announced his official retirement from inter-county football. The book entitled Dessie Tangled Up In Blue was co-written with Seán Potts. Farrell was named on the 2006 Dublin Bus/Evening Herald Blue Star football XV as a substitute.

After retiring from county football in 2005, Farrell was appointed as lead coach for a Dublin Football Development Squad

He took his first coaching session in 2007.[4]

He became Minor Football manager in 2011. After winning the Leinster championship, he led his team to an All-Ireland final in his first year where they lost narrowly to Tipperary in an epic final. He later went on to manage the Dublin minors to all-Ireland victory against Meath at Croke Park in September 2012. He left his position as minor manager after the final and was eventually ratified as the under 21 manager in November 2012. In 2014, Dublin won the 2014 all-Ireland U21 football championship against Roscommon at O'Connor Park in Tullamore. Dessie Farrell won the competition in his second year in charge and went on to manage Dublin to a second victory in the 2017 all-Ireland Under 21 football championship against Galway.[5]

In December 2019, the Dublin GAA county committee appointed Farrell as manager of the Dublin senior county footballers for a three year term, succeeding Jim Gavin. The appointment was announced in Parnell Park during the 2019 annual convention.

Farrell played Hockey for Ireland at international level. He continued to play throughout his Dublin career.[2]

Farrell's mother Anne (née Carr) came from Crove between Glengesh and Meenaneary in County Donegal.[6] He is a first cousin of Séamus Coleman, whose aunt is Farrell's mother.[7]

He is a trained psychiatric nurse.[8][9]

• Dessie Farrells Speech at the 2006 GPA awards
• Gaelic Players Association