Jarlath Burns rules out bid to become President of Ireland

Mr Burns, who is currently serving a three-year term as GAA President, said that he has “a lot of things to do in the GAA and a very short time to do it”.

An vote is due to take later this year to elect President Michael D Higgins' successor. Mr Burns’ name has been mentioned in political circles as a potential candidate, with bookies giving him odds of 33/1.

But asked on RTE’s Morning Ireland about the speculation, he said: “I most certainly am not. I can confidently say that today [and] confirm it for you. I have another year of the GAA presidency to do and I would certainly not be in the mood to give that up to go for anything else.

“I have a lot of things to do in the GAA and a very short time to do it, so thank you very much for asking but it's a firm no from me.”

Earlier this year, Mr Burns told a press briefing that: “My plan is when I finish this job to go back to St Paul's, Bessbrook to be principal [the job he left to take over the three-year role as GAA president].

“[It's] the place I love, the place I miss, even though this is the best job you could possibly have, that's where I belong anyway. So, thank you for giving me the opportunity to rule that out very clearly.”