The GAA All Ireland series launch took place in the Aran Islands.
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael John Horan, in the company of Football championship sponsors AIB, Eir and SuperValu, and Hurling Championship sponsors Bord Gáis Energy, Littlewoods Ireland and Centra marked the onset of the All-Ireland series in Dublin.
The stage is set for an epic finale to the GAA Championship summer of 2018.
After gripping Provincial Championship and All-Ireland qualifier battles in front of fantastic crowds, the quest for the Liam MacCarthy and Sam Maguire Cups enters a crucial phase.
The launch of the Concluding stages of the Championship took place on Inis Mór today with Uachtarán CLG John Horan joined by an elite cast of inter-county stars.
The GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship is down to six teams with Kilkenny, Limerick, Wexford and Clare in a tussle this weekend to join Galway and Cork.
In football, the eagerly awaited inaugural new quarter final format in the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship begins on Saturday and Sunday.
Kerry, Galway, Monaghan and Kildare are in group one with Dublin, Donegal, Roscommon and Tyrone in group two.
Speaking at the launch Uachtarán CLG John Horan said: “The 2018 Championship summer has already given us so many highlights and there’s a real buzz of excitement about what’s to come in the next few weeks.
“The Provincial Hurling Championships were outstanding and there was a real edge to the Football campaign as teams wanted to take their place in the new quarter final format.
“There’s a lot of people who play an important part in the GAA Championship summer from supporters, to match officials, to grounds staff, to sponsors, to media - but above all I want to salute our players who continue to be such outstanding ambassadors for our great games.
“I’ve no doubt that the race to the All-Ireland finals will be something to savour.”
Matches in July will determine the Semi-Final pairings, before the All-Ireland Hurling and Football Finals take place on August 19 and September 2 respectively.
For ticket information on the upcoming games, GAA supporters can visit gaa.ie/tickets