The inter-county season begins in January with each province's warm-up competition and ends in September with the All-Ireland final.
[5] Usually each of the 32 GAA counties in Ireland participates in the inter-county leagues and in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship; Kilkenny does not compete in the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, and Cavan does not currently compete in the National Hurling League, though Fingal (part of Dublin) recently did.
The British Provincial Council organises inter-county competitions for the seven counties under its control on the island of Britain.
[7] The British Provincial Council is the only area outside Ireland to organise regular inter-county matches.
It became a feature during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland when restrictions (including a travel ban) were imposed.