| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Gearóid Ó Braonáin | ||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Born | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Occupation | Teacher | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
| St Vincents | |||
| Club titles | |||
| Dublin titles | 3 | ||
| Leinster titles | 3 | ||
| All-Ireland Titles | 2 | ||
| Inter-county(ies)** | |||
| Years | County | Apps (scores) | |
2006–2015 | Dublin | 27 (0–5) | |
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Leinster titles | 5 | ||
| All-Irelands | 2 | ||
| NFL | 1 | ||
| All Stars | 1 | ||
| **Inter County team apps and scores correct as of 23 August 2014. | |||
Ger Brennan is an Irish Gaelic football coach, manager and former player for St Vincents and the Dublin county team. He was manager of the Louth county team between 2023 and 2025.
Early life
[edit]From a family of nine, he attended Belvedere College.
Graduating from Maynooth College with undergraduate and master's degrees, he qualified as a school teacher and taught Irish and religion at St Kevin's College, Ballygall Road, in Dublin 11. In November 2015 he was appointed Gaelic Games Executive at University College Dublin.[1]
Playing career
[edit]Club
[edit]Brennan won his first Dublin Senior Football Championship medal with St Vincents in 2007 in the final against St Brigid's at Parnell Park. The team then went on to win the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship final against Tyrrellspass of Westmeath. Brennan was chosen as the Leinster club player of the year for his performances with St Vincents.
Brennan won the 2008 All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship with St Vincents in a hard-fought game. He won the Dublin Senior Football Championship with St Vincents, as captain, in 2013.[2]
Inter-county
[edit]Brennan made his national league debut for Dublin against Tyrone on 3 February 2007. He was a member of the Dublin team that won the 2007 O'Byrne Cup, playing against Laois at O'Connor Park in Offaly. The game finished on a scoreline of 1–18 to 2–13.[3] He finished the tournament with a total of 0–4.
In 2008, he retired from Dublin's football panel, citing burnout and fatigue as his reasons. However, on 30 July 2008, he was named in Dublin's panel for the quarter-final and accepted a return. He was part of the Dublin panel that won the 2011 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (SFC) title. He won a second All-Ireland SFC title with Dublin in 2013, scoring two points in the final against Mayo.[4]
In October 2015, Brennan announced his retirement from inter-county football, but he continued to play club football.[citation needed]
Coaching
[edit]In August 2020, Brennan was announced as Carlow's head coach after Niall Carew took over as manager.[5][6]
On 2 October 2023, he was appointed manager of the Louth county team.[7]
In May 2025, Louth won a first Leinster SFC title in 68 years after a 3–14 to 1–18 win against Meath in the final.[8]
On 1 July 2025, he left his position as Louth manager after two seasons in charge.[9]
Personal life
[edit]Brennan is a Catholic who has spoken about his faith in God. He has stated that while non-denominational schools may teach subjects such as science, Catholic schools "enable young students to have the skills to pray".[10]
Brennan was praised for his "nonchalant delivery" of thanks to the "girlfriends and boyfriends of the players" after St Vincent's defeated Castlebar Mitchels in the 2014 All-Ireland Club Championship Final at Croke Park (a speech delivered in front of a live television audience).[11] However just over a year later, Brennan wrote an op-ed for the Irish Independent arguing against the legalisation of same-sex marriage in that year's Marriage Equality referendum, which was ultimately carried in a 62% to 38% popular vote.[12] His stance was criticised by others, including fellow GAA star Conor Cusack.[13]
He is a nephew of former Ireland association football international Fran Brennan.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ Ger Brennan appointed Gaelic Games Executive at UCD www.ucd.ie, November 2015.
- ^ "Diamond's late gem secures dramatic Dublin SFC title for St Vincent's". Archived from the original on 7 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2013.
- ^ "Sport".
- ^ "Dublin are All Ireland champions - Independent.ie".
- ^ "Niall Carew appointed Carlow boss with Ger Brennan joining ticket". RTÉ. 18 August 2020.
- ^ McKeon, Conor (18 August 2020). "Niall Carew is new Carlow football boss with Ger Brennan in as head coach". Irish Independent.
- ^ "Ger Brennan replaces Mickey Harte as Louth boss". RTÉ. 2 October 2023.
- ^ "Louth land Leinster crown to end 68-year famine". RTE Sport. 11 May 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ "Ger Brennan brings curtain down on Louth tenure". RTÉ Sport. 20 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
- ^ Duncan, Pamela (20 January 2014). "Ger Brennan says time for young people to learn more about faith: Catholic Schools Week 2014 begins next Sunday, January 26th". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Ger Brennan's 'inclusive' speech praised by gay rights groups". BBC News. BBC. 19 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
- ^ Brennan, Ger (15 May 2015). "Dublin football star Ger Brennan: Why I'm voting No". Irish Independent.
- ^ Cullen, Adam (14 May 2015). "Conor Cusack challenges Dubs star Ger Brennan on opposition to same-sex marriage". Evening Herald.
- ^ "'I've seen it all now, a Rabbitte chasing a Fox around Croke Park': Pat Fox on Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh's famous quote". The Irish Times. Retrieved 14 August 2024.