GAA President John Horan believes the two-metre social distancing rule is a 'big hurdle' preventing Gaelic games from returning.
Horan explained on The Sunday Game on May 10 that GAA activity was unlikely to resume as long as coronavirus social distancing measures remained in place.
Government guidelines, however, suggested that GAA could be among the sports to make a return on July 20, if some level of social distancing could be maintained.
The GAA now appears to be targeting July 20 for at least a partial return to activities, and will bring that date forward if authorities permit.
Inter-county action is suspended until October but it appears clubs could get up and running a lot sooner.
Ultimately, any return to play plan will depend on coronavirus case numbers and resulting government regulations.
In an interview with GAA.ie, Horan said: "There's no talking about 'we won't be back until there is a vaccine' and there is no talking about 'we won't be back until social distancing is acceptable' but as long as social distancing is the priority at two metres that is a big hurdle for us to bring back contact sport.
"I fully understand that there is a huge frustration out there and you can see articles in the media where people are pushing to actually go back but if you take into account what the Government has said, the Government guideline pushes out to a date of July 20.
"We have never pushed beyond that date. As I have said in a previous interview, if we can bring that forward we will bring it forward but we will only do it in a prudent manner and a manner that is safe for our membership."
Horan went on to explain that returning to play in urban areas will be a major challenge - with densely populated parts of the country generally worse affected by Covid-19 than rural areas.
He added: "I do sympathise. There are parts of Ireland where outbreaks of Covid-19 are low and people may feel safe there but overall it's across the Association we have to stay in this together.
"The big challenges are in urban areas and I understand that and I do get a feel for the frustration and people are contacting me about that frustration. But we have to make safe and prudent decisions."
