GAA President Nickey Brennan has led the tributes to Liam Mulvihill, who held a final press conference today as he retires as the Association's Director General, a post he has held since June 1, 1979.
Brennan expressed his gratitude to the Longford native, for his input to the GAA over a major period of change for Gaelic games over the last 29 years.
'After almost 30 years we have come to a historic day, when Liam leaves us this evening and begins and whole new chapter on his life,' Brennan said.
'It has been a great experience for the Association having somebody like Liam here with his vision, his integrity and his leadership.
'His commitment to the organisation and his loyalty have all been among just some of the factors which have made him very much an outstanding Ard Stiurthoir.'
Brennan also paid tribute to Mulvihill for his personal support during the Kilkenny man's own tenure as GAA President, which ends in April 2009.
'On a personal level the day I was elected here, I knew that in my time this (Liam's retirement) was very likely to happen.
'I would like to thank Liam for his support for me. The last six to eight months has been a particularly busy time, moving from one Ard Stiurthoir to another and getting all the different issues in place.'
Announced as Mulvihill's replacement in November, Paraic Duffy will fill the role of the GAA's Director General from tomorrow.
The Monaghan native rose to prominence in the GAA as the first ever Player Welfare manager and he is also a former Chairman of the Monaghan County Board.
'Since the appointment of Paraic, he has been particularly busy and I would sincerely like to thank Liam for his personal support to me during that period of time.
'It has been an emotional time for himself. He has actually stood up to the whole thing very well and I would like to wish Liam well,' Brennan added.
'He has new challenges that lie ahead and I know that he is going to enjoy those and more that come his way.
'If we do need help, and we probably will over the next few months as we grapple with many issues, I know he will only be a phone call away and will be there to assist Paraic Duffy and myself, and any of the other personnel.'
Mulvihill is not leaving the glare of Irish public life behind - he will assume a new role with Irish language organisation Forás na Gaeilge in the coming weeks.
