GAA All-Ireland winning Down player Daniel McCartan will be remembered as a “footballing legend” following his death at the age of 84.
Originally from the Burren area outside Newry, he was just 19 when he was part of the Down squad that lifted the Sam Maguire trophy for the first time in 1960, and they celebrated a second All-Ireland victory the following year, and again in 1968.
His brother James was also part of the squad.
In the course of his career, Daniel also won eight Ulster Senior Championship medals and three National League titles among other honours.
Outside of GAA, Daniel was a dentist, whose surgery was based on the Andersonstown Road in west Belfast.
In the later stages of his GAA career, he joined Carryduff GAC, who said they were “deeply saddened” to learn of the death of the “footballing legend” whose son also went on to become a Down hero.
“There is no doubt that Dan passed on his fiercely competitive spirit and intense love of our Gaelic sports to his son, our esteemed committee member Mark, who also won an All-Ireland medal for Down in 1991,” a spokesperson said.
“He has passed the baton on to the next generation in Carryduff GAC. Our club will be forever grateful for his immeasurable contribution and we are hugely proud to call him one of our own.”
They added: “We extend our deepest sympathies to his partner Betty, his son Mark, daughter-in-law Joan, grandsons Daniel, Seán and Ross, and to the entire McCartan family.”
— Carryduff GAC (@CarryduffCLG) March 3, 2024
Former Carryduff GAC member Kieran Swail said in a Facebook post: “On and off the pitch Dan was a leader, motivator, and he influenced so many of us as we grew up with the club.”
In a statement on Sunday a Down GAA spokesperson said: “Dan made a difference to the lives of many, those whom he played with and those whom he would go on to coach, he was a passionate and proud Down man, who at all times gave of his best in any task that he undertook.
“The present generation of Down footballers are inheritors of a great tradition that began with men like Dan McCartan, indeed a wonderful legacy, in Club and in County, has been left by a great man.”
Dan is also remembered as an advocate of GAA handball, which he continued to play well into his latter years.
South Down Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard said in an X post: “Thoughts & prayers across Down and much further afield are with the entire McCartan clan at this sad time. Dan will be fondly remembered by all where Gaelic games are played and where the red & black is worn.”
South Belfast SDLP MLA Matthew O’Toole said in a post: “Profoundly sad to hear of the passing of Dan McCartan, a legend of Carryduff and Down and alongside his brother James, one of the heroic generation who brought Sam Maguire North for the first time.
“My condolences to the entire family circle. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.”
