Jim Gavin
Jim Gavin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gavin in 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1 July 1971 Dublin, Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Party | Fianna Fáil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Jennifer Gavin (m. 2000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance | Ireland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Branch/service | Air Corps | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years of service | 1990–2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | Commandant (OF-3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commands | Chief Flying Instructor, Flying Training School Chief of Military Aviation MINURCAT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Battles/wars | MINURCAT (Chad) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gaelic games career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupations |
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| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Gaelic football | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Right half-forward | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jim Gavin (born 1 July 1971) is an Irish public servant, politician, retired military officer and former Gaelic football player and manager.
Gavin made his inter-county debut at the age of 16 for the Dublin minor team. In 1993, he joined the Dublin senior team, with which he won an All-Ireland SFC medal, three Leinster SFC medals, and a National League medal. After retiring from inter-county football following the 2002 championship, he transitioned to team management. Over the next decade, he led the Dublin under-21 county team to three All-Ireland U21FC titles, in 2003, 2010 and 2012.
In October 2012, Gavin succeeded Pat Gilroy as manager of the Dublin senior county team. He led the team through a seven-year period of unprecedented provincial and national dominance that included five National League titles, seven consecutive Leinster SFC titles and six All-Ireland SFC titles (a record five consecutively). Widely regarded as one of the best managers in Gaelic football's history, he is the county's most successful manager in terms of major titles won. He stepped down from the role in November 2019 and was awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin in January 2020. He subsequently chaired the Football Review Committee, established by the GAA to reform the rules of Gaelic football.
Outside sports, Gavin joined the Defence Forces at age 18 as a cadet. He rose to become a senior officer in the Irish Air Corps, including roles in UN peacekeeping, before retiring from the military in 2011. He subsequently joined the Irish Aviation Authority, where he serves as chief operations officer. He was the Fianna Fáil nominee in the 2025 Irish presidential election but discontinued his campaign amid controversy over an unpaid debt to a former tenant.