The potential All Ireland champions for 2026 in all Gaelic codes may only come from a small number of counties, but what about 2036?
It's very clear to even the most casual observer that there are certain counties where hurling is strong and certain counties which produce Ladies football winners. However, sports history shows it wasn't always like this and what was once the norm quickly became unstuck.
From money and housing to demographics and jobs, there's a myriad of reasons why some counties and areas within became powerhouses. But could we see a changing of the guard? Is there a chance that Limerick could be All Ireland football champions in 2026 or that Kerry's hurlers replace their footballers as regulars on Croke Park final day?
Presenter Ronan Kelly grabs his whistle and talks to Dr Hayley Kilgallon from UCD's School of History and the author of Unladylike: A History of Ladies Gaelic Football and Michael Moynihan, associate editor with The Irish Examiner and author of More Than A Game: The GAA and Where It's Going and GAAconomics: The Secret Life of Money in the GAA
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READ: Where are the hurling and football strongholds in Ireland?
READ: How the Dubs put their stamp on Gaelic football
READ: 'Gaelic football owes a debt of gratitude to Kerry'
READ: 5 great teams from the history of ladies' football
READ: How women and camogie took on the GAA
The credits: this episode of the RTÉ Brainstorm podcast was produced by Ciaran O'Byrne, research was by Julia Kennedy and it was recorded by Harry Bookless and Cliona Nolan. RTÉ Brainstorm is edited by Jim Carroll and the assistant editor is Aoife Ryan-Christensen. The series is proudly supported by Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
