The IRFU has a long and illustrious list of past presidents. Dating as far back as 1879, these are the innovators who shaped the Irish game into the successful and world-envied organisation that it is today.

Presidents of IRFU 1874-2008

Years of Service	President
1874-76	Duke of Abercorn
1876-79	Duke of Marlborough
1879-80	W. C. Neville, M.D.
1880-81	Rt. Hon. Sir Wm. Goulding, P.C.,M.A.,J.P.,D.L.
1881-82	R. B. Walkington
1882-83	G. Scriven, M.D.
1883-84	A. R. McMullen
1884-85	R. E. McLean
1885-86	G. Scriven, M.D.
1886-87	W. L. Stokes
1887-88	J. Chambers, K.C.,M.P.
1888-89	R. Biggs, LL.D.
1889-90	Sir F. W. Moore, F.L.S.
1890-91	M. H. Turnbull
1891-92	H. Hook
1892-93	J. R. Blood
1893-94	R. Garratt, M.D.
1894-95	J. Macaulay
1895-96	R. G. Warren
1896-97	J. Dodds
1897-98	J. F. Maguire
1898-99	J. B. Moore
1899-00	S. Lee
1900-01	J. O'Sullivan
1901-02	T. Thornhill
1902-03	J. Johnston
1903-04	V. J. Murray
1904-05	A. D. Clinch, M.D.
1905-06	F. M. Hamilton
1906-07	J. Flynn
1907-08	G. H. B. Kennedy
1908-09	A. Barr
1909-10	Prof. C. W. L. Alexander
1910-11	F. C. Purser, M.D.
1911-12	J. H. O'Conor
1912-13	Major R. Stevenson
1913-16	F. H. Browning, B.L.
1919-20	A. Tedford
1920-21	W. P. Hinton
1921-22	R. M. Magrath
1922-23	G. G. McCrea
1923-24	H. Thrift, S.F.,T.C.D.
1924-25	J. J. Coffey
1925-26	F. J. Strain
1926-27	G. T. Hamlet
1927-28	Judge Sealy, K.C.
1928-29	H. J. Millar
1929-30	T. J. Greeves
1930-31	J. G. Musgrave
1931-32	W. A. Clarke
1932-33	C. S. Neill
1933-34	S. E. Polden
1934-35	J. Wallace, M.B.
1935-36	Sir S. T. Irwin, C.B.E.,M.Ch.,F.R.C.S.,M.P.
1936-37	The Hon. Mr. Justice C. Davitt
1937-38	H. E. Emerson, M.B.,O.B.E.,M.C.
1938-45	J. J. Warren
1945-46	H. J. Anderson, L.D.S.I.
1946-47	W. A. B. Douglas, J.P.,F.R.G.S.
1947-48	T. M. McGrath, M.B.
1948-49	G. P. S. Hogan, B.L.,P.C.
1949-50	W. G. Fallon, B.L.
1950-51	Air Vice-Marshall Sir W. Tyrrell, K.B.E.,D.S.O.,M.C.,M.B.,LLD.
1951-52	D. F. O'Connell
1952-53	V. E. Kirwan
1953-54	J. B. O'Callaghan
1954-55	C. J. Hanrahan
1955-56	H. M. Read
1956-57	Capt. J. R. Ramsey, P.C.
1957-58	W. E. Crawford, B.L.
1958-59	J. J. Glynn
1959-60	J. R. Wheeler, M.B.,F.R.C.S.
1960-61	N. F. Murphy
1961-62	L. B. McMahon
1962-63	J. A. E. Siggins
1963-64	T. A. O'Reilly
1964-65	C. C. Harte
1965-66	P. F. Murray, F.F.A.
1966-67	D. G. O'Donovan
1967-68	E. O'D. Davy
1968-69	C. P. Crowley
1969-70	J. W. S. Irwin, M.B.,F.R.C.S.
1970-71	E. Patterson
1971-72	D. A. Dineen
1972-73	The Hon. Mr. Justice J. C. Conroy
1973-74	I. F. Mahony
1974-75	H. R. McKibbin, C.B.E.,LL.B.
1975-76	J. J. Keane, L.R.C.P.&S.I.
1976-77	J. A. D. Higgins
1977-78	J. F. Coffey
1978-79	K. J. Quilligan
1979-80	J. Montgomery, M.C.
1980-81	R. Ganly, M.I.A.V.I.
1981-82	J. J. Moore, B.Sc.
1982-83	J. E. Nelson, O.B.E.,F.C.A.
1983-84	G. F. Reidy
1984-85	M. H. Carroll
1985-86	D. McKibbin, B.Sc., C.Eng.,M.I.C.E.
1986-87	Sir Ewart Bell, K.C.B.
1987-88	P. F. Madigan
1988-89	T. J. Kiernan, B.Comm.,F.C.A.
1989-90	A. R. Dawson, F.R.I.A.I.,F.A.S.I.
1990-91	N. J. Henderson, B.Sc.
1991-92	Dr. A. D. Browne, B.D.S.
1992-93	C. A. Quaid, Ph.D.
1993-94	M. Cuddy
1994-95	K. E. Reid, M.A.,H.Dip.Ed.
1995-96	Dr. S. Millar, M.B.E.,D.Sc.
1996-97	R. M. Deacy, F.C.A.
1997-98	N. H. Brophy, B.Comm.,F.C.A.
1998-99	N. A. A. Murphy
1999-00	W. S. H. Lavery, LL.B.
2000-01	E. Coleman
2001-02	R. Loughead
2002-03	D.M. Crowley, B.E.,Eur.Ing., C.Eng., M.I.E.I.xxxx
2003-04	J.K. Quilligan
2004-05	B.T. Keogh
2005-06	D. A. Crawford
2006-07	P.J. Boyle
2007-08	D.V. Healy
2008 - 09	J. Lyons
2009 - 10	J.R. Callaghan
2010 - 11	C. Powell
2011 - 12	J. D. Hussey
2012 -13	W.B. Glynn
2013 - 14	P. Fitzgerald
2014 - 15	L. Magee
2015 - 16	M. O'Sullivan
2016 - 17	S. R. Hilditch
2017 - 18	P.A.Orr