Tributes to Down great Dan McCartan, who had died aged 84

Originally from Burren and a dentist by trade, he was part of the team that won the Mourne country’s first All-Ireland title in 1960 and would go on to help them win two more in 1961 and 1968.

Amongst his many honours were eight Ulster Senior Championship medals and three National League titles.

In a statement Down GAA said that they had been left saddened by the news of his passing.

"Dan made his senior debut in the National League of 1958 and his Inter County career came to a close in the National League of 1976. During that time, Dan gave outstanding service to his county, first at Centre Half Back and then later as Full Back,” they said in a statement.

“Dan McCartan was a Player, a Team Manager, Team Selector, County Youth Officer, a Delegate to Congress and a champion of the game of Handball. He made a difference to the lives of many, those whom he played with and those 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 county has been left by a great man.

“We extend our deepest sympathy to Dan's partner Betty, his son Mark, his daughters in law Joan, Andrea and Sharon, his step sons Gary and Jason, his sisters Gay, Delia and Eileen, sister in law Marie, brothers in law, George, Felix and Seamus and his grandchildren, Jamie, Jorden, Daniel, Sean, Ethan, Ross, Jack, Asla and Adam.

“Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.”

In club football, McCartan played for Tullylish who extended their sympathies family.

“Dan, along with his late brother James, was instrumental in the success of Tullylish senior team in the late 1960s and 70s where he achieved numerous league wins and contested in the 1971 senior championship final,” they said in a statement.

“Dan won three All Ireland senior football titles for Down in 1960, 1961 and 1968. He was only 19 when he won his first All-Ireland and is regarded by many as one of the finest footballers to play the game.

“In an incredible inter-county career (including his three all Irelands) Dan won eight ulster senior championships titles, three national leagues and four Railway Cups.

"Dan later moved to Carryduff where he continued to be an instrumental GAA figure, and even contested an All-Ireland handball final in 2004.

“Undoubtedly Dan was a truly an inspirational figure whose legacy will continue to shine within our club.”

Dan was also involved with Carryduff GAC, who said that his involvement in the early stages of the club's development “laid a strong foundation for the success that we all continue to witness”.

“Dan played for Glenn and Tullylish before he became involved in the nascent Carryduff GAC. He persuaded Seamus Wallace to manage our first male football reserve team in 1977, and he was still playing senior football in his late 50s, lining out alongside his son Mark,” a Carryduff statement said.

"Dan set up Handball in the club in 1985 and contested an All-Ireland 20x40 Handball final nearly 20 years later, in 2004, with his playing partner Des MacNeill from Clonduff. Fast forward almost two decades and Dan was there to cheer on the Carryduff lady footballers during their Ulster campaign in Ballykinlar in 2023.

"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. 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 count him as one of our own.”

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s Chris Hazzard MP has said the local community is “saddened” to learn of the passing of the 3-time All Ireland winning defender Dan McCartan.The South Down MP said: “I was saddened to learn of Dan McCartan’s passing on Sunday afternoon; Dan was a legend in Down GAA circles and much further afield.

“His enthusiasm and commitment to his county, his club, and his community was unrivalled, his legacy unmatched.

“I want to extend my condolences to Dan’s family; the wider McCartan clan; and his former teammates, coaching staff, and players’ whose hearts will all be sore this evening.”