Hugh Byrne, Wicklow, was the twentieth president of the GAA (1961-1964).

Born in Rathdangan, he studied at UCD, competing in the Sigerson Cup^[1]. After completing his studies, he taught at St. Peter’s, Bray, playing with Bray Emmets, winning two Senior Football championships with them, in 1934 and 1935, before returning to Rathdangan to succeed his father, PJ, as principal of the local National School.^[2] There, he played with Rathdangan, playing alongside his brothers Mick, Nick and Paddy against his former team, for whom he inadvertently scored an own goal.^[2]

He became chairman of the Wicklow County Board in 1947, and later became chairman of the Leinster Board.

In 1961, he became Wicklow’s first GAA President.