Moate's Trina elected as next LGFA President

Moate woman Trina Murray is the new President-elect of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association.

The Westmeath native was elected on today (Saturday) as Uachtarán Tofa at the 2024 LGFA Annual Congress, held the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon, Co. Clare. Murray defeated Down’s Seamus O’Hanlon on a 82-26 vote.

Leinster LGFA President Murray, a clerical officer with Westmeath County Council, will officially take over the reins from Mícheál Naughton at the LGFA’s 2025 Annual Congress, which will be held in Donegal.

Trina is a daughter of Mary and the late Tommie Broder, who was a stalwart of Moate All Whites GAA club for many years. Trina’s brother Michael was a prominent footballer for Moate and was part of the Westmeath team which claimed a famous win over then All-Ireland champions Derry in 1994.

Trina is married to Jack Murray from Tubber and the couple’s daughter Emma has played football for Moate CS and the Moate club. Retired from the Defence Forces, with whom he was based in Athlone, Jack is a fitness enthusiast, and he has trained a number of teams.

Murray will become the 14th different President of the LGFA since its inception in 1974, when she officially assumes office next year.

The Moate woman has been serving as Leinster LGFA President, and LGFA vice-President, since January 2021.

At the time, Murray became the third female Leinster LGFA President in recent history, following in the footsteps of Marie Hickey and Mary Wheatley.

Next year, she will become the fifth female LGFA President, following previous terms served by Mary Wheatley, Helen O’Rourke (the current LGFA CEO), fellow Westmeath woman Geraldine Giles and Marie Hickey.

Murray was brought up in a family steeped in Gaelic Games and she began playing ladies football in her parish, Tubber, at the age of 14.

To her disappointment, the Tubber club disbanded after a few short years and at 18, she successfully investigated the possibility of establishing the Moate club.

As a player, Murray lined out for 20 years with Moate and for 13 years in the colours of Westmeath, who won a Leinster title in 1995 before adding an All-Ireland 'B' crown in the same year.

Murray, however, missed out on the chance to play in the All-Ireland Final as she was unfortunately involved in a car accident a week before the big game.

From an administrative viewpoint, Murray filled the secretary’s position with Moate before going on to serve as Westmeath LGFA secretary.

A coach of club, county and provincial teams, Murray would also serve as a Westmeath delegate at Leinster and Central Council gatherings, and also at Annual Congress.

In 2017, she was appointed vice-President of Leinster LGFA, and became provincial President-elect in 2020.

In February 2020, Murray graduated from the administration strand of the LGFA’s ‘Learn to Lead’ Female Leadership programme.

Murray’s career in administration has progressed well since then and after assuming the role of Leinster LGFA President, she is now President-elect of the LGFA.

Speaking after the vote, Murray said: “I’m overwhelmed. It’s a huge honour for myself, my family, my club, my county and my province.

“I’m looking forward to the role that lies in store and I will assist Mícheál in any way that I can over the next year.

“These are exciting times for the LGFA and we can look to the future with a huge sense of optimism, as we approach our 50th anniversary on the 18th of July.”