Jim Gavin
Updated: Wikipedia source
Jim Gavin (born 1 July 1971) is an Irish public servant, politician, retired military officer and former Gaelic football player and manager. Gavin was Fianna Fáil's nominee for the 2025 Irish presidential election, before withdrawing from the race on 5 October 2025. Widely regarded as one of the best managers in Gaelic football's history, Gavin managed the senior Dublin county team from 2012 to 2019, becoming the county's most successful manager in terms of major titles won. He served as a senior officer in the Irish Air Corps, including roles in UN peacekeeping, and was the senior public servant responsible for Irish aviation safety, until stepping aside during his presidential bid. Gavin won six Cumann na mBunscoil medals as a dual player with Clonburris National School, later attending and representing Moyle Park College. At a club level, he won championships at underage levels with Round Towers. He made his inter-county debut at the age of sixteen for the Dublin minor team, joining the senior team during the 1992–93 National League. He went on to play a key role for Dublin over much of the next decade, and won an All-Ireland SFC medal, three Leinster SFC medals and one National League medal. Gavin retired from inter-county football following the conclusion of the 2002 championship. Becoming involved in coaching and team management at all grades at club level, Gavin led the Dublin under-21 county team to the All-Ireland U21FC title in 2003, winning two further All-Ireland titles at the same grade in 2010 and 2012. Appointed manager of the Dublin senior county team on 1 October 2012, Gavin led Dublin through a seven-year period of unprecedented provincial and national dominance, with his team winning seventeen major honours during his time in charge. Many of the trophies he accumulated as manager were won in successive seasons, including four successive National Leagues, seven successive Leinster SFC titles and a record-breaking five successive All-Ireland SFC titles, including four league–championship doubles. In addition, Gavin won a further All-Ireland SFC title, one National League title and one O'Byrne Cup in his time as manager of the Dublin senior team.