Morgan, Dan
February 01, 2011
The Late Dan Morgan
In many of his 72 years, Dan Morgan constantly wore a familiar hat when the weather dictated the need to do so, But, over his many decades as a tireless servant of the sport of hurling, he wore all sorts of metaphorical hats- and all of them furthered the aims of the caman and sliothar for the benefit of his beloved Eoghan Ruadh and his county.
At the time of his sad death in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the White City man was honourary president of the Dungannon hurling club. Prior to that, at varying times he had been a player, captain, chairman, county board delegate, committee member and fundraiser with his club and was also a distinguished Tyrone player less than four decades ago.
But he did much more than represent his club and county for, throughout his life, he always demonstrated an unswerving passion for the sport something which radiated in his demeanour and inspired countless youngsters in Dungannon and district and even much further afield to become involved in the reputedly fastest field game in the world.
Indeed he only played his final competitive game when he was at the ripe old age of 56, that as an emergency stand-in fullback against the Coalisland new boys of Naomh Colum Cilles.
If anything irked the genial Dan about hurling, it was only the perceived failure of those who control Gaelic Games at national, provincial and county level to treat it on a par with football. Dan was a man with opinions and he was never behind the door when it came to expressing them, a trait which gained him respect and admiration because they were views which were legitimate and genuine.
Dan had other interests, of course and most them were ordinary, simple pleasures. In his younger days he was handy enough on the snooker and billiards tables, while he always love a punt on the horses and football, a wee session on the poker machines and a game of cards, be it 25, 51, whist or poker. He quit smoking at the age of 40, but was always teetotal.
A confirmed bachelor, he was a man of great faith and a regular churchgoer at St. Patricks right until ill health in recent times curtailed most of his almost routine activities.
A lifetime member, and ultimately trustee, of the Irish National Foresters, his schooling came at the Presentation Brothers and first job was as groundsman at Milltown Cemetery in Belfast. Whilst in the city, he honed his hurling skills and learned much about coaching, which he later handed on the his peers back in Dungannon, helped by Brothers Raymond and Edward.
He later worked for his uncle, scrap merchant Jimmy Donnelly, then had a spell working in Moygashel factory, did regular night shift for years at the old Glass Fabrics factory at Beechvalley and was a barman at Jimmy Donnelly's Altmore House Hotel, before finally becoming caretaker at Ea
st Tyrone Technical College at Circular Road.
A member of a large and respected Dungannon family, Dan is survived by brothers Charlie, John, Anthony, Jim, Oliver, Austin, Michael and Eamonn and sisters Esther and Margaret and I extend my sincere sympathy to the grieving wide family circle.
On Friday past the Gaels of Dun Geanainn and further afield gathered at St Patricks Church to bid farewell to one of Dungannon's true GAA stalwarts, Dan Morgan of the local Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Club. Dan devoted a hugh part of his life to the game of Hurling and in particular his beloved Eoghan Ruadh and he served the club as player, captain, chairman, Vice-chairman, county board delegate, fundraiser and, at the time of his death was Honourary President of Eoghan Ruadh.
Dan was born in 1938, one of fifteen children to born to Joseph and Annie Morgan. He learned his love of the game of hurling from the local Presentation Brothers while attending the local St Patrick's Monastery Boys School, in particular from the late from the late Brother Raymond Sharkey. In fact, it appears from the stories and reminiscences at the wake house that hurling was one of the few attractions of school in those days and some other lessons appeared to have been skipped from time to time despite the ever vigilant attention of the Brothers. Among those whom Dan hurled with at school were Jim Quinn and the Herron brothers Johnny and Gerry and manys a night's hurling took place at the revamped Pairc Ui Neill.
Dan never forgot the contribution that Bros. Raymond, Edward and Ciaran, among others made to the educational and cultural heritage of Dungannon and in particular to Eoghan Ruadh. He was a leading member of the committee that sought to raise funds for a lasting tribute to that contribution. That is illustrated in the Patrick's Church honouring that contribution and the headstone over the graves of the Presentation Order interred at Carland Road cemetery.
As recalled earlier, Dan's introduction to hurling was around 1946 and he was shortly thereafter to join the fledgling Eoghan Ruadh team. The club had just won its first county title in 1948 and the following decade was to see a succession of titles come to Dungannon. Always a tenacious competitor he played his first games for the club at senior level aged just 13 and was to be a constant on Eoghan Ruadh and Tyrone teams thereafter. He was equally adept at football representing the local Thomas Clarke GFC at all levels before his love of hurling took precedence.
Nor was his hurling confined to Dungannon. When he left home for work in Belfast he was to associate himself with the Cardinal O'Donnell's GAC located in the Whiterock area of west Belfast. But it was Eoghan Ruadh and Dunganoon to whom he pledged his lifelong allegiance and together with his brother Mark, also an outstanding athlete, and his old school buddies Eoghan Ruadh became a hurling force to be respected. In those days of the 50's and 60's clubs travelled the length and breadth of Ulster to compete in tournaments and competitions.
Despite the successes and achievements of the 50s and, to a lesser extent, the 60s, Dan and Eoghan Ruadh enjoyed championship success on three times during the 70s, the last being 1978. There followed a famine of senior success at championship level although league titles were regularly accumulated.
Not quite finished playing but still passionate about the club and the game. Dan threw his energies into committee work ensuring that the structures were in place to keep Eoghan Ruadh producing talented hurlers. Alongside teammates Gerry Herron and Michael Devlin, Peter McCaughey, Noel Devlin, Johnny Harte, Mark Morgan as well as emerging minor stars Gerry Goodwin and Tommy Cushley a system of underage coaching was put in place to guarantee the next generation of hurlers. Again, with the blessing of the Presentation Brothers, the school fields at the foot of the the Donaghmore Road were made available for practice and from those fields were emerge that future generations of Eoghan Ruadh hurlers. That tradition continues to this day with the descendants of the early pioneers still involved. Indeed Dan's cousin, Harold Heron played an integral part in ending the famine of senior success, hurling in many of Dan's favoured positions of fullback, midfield and full forward.
And visitors to the town weren't spared, either, AIB bank manager Fergus Kennedy also corralled into coaching and playing for the club. Indeed, Dan oversaw the celebrations to mark Fergus's departure from Dungannon after many enjoyable though lean years playing for Eoghan Ruadh.
The famine of senior championship success was ended in 1990 when Dan, alongside club stalwarts John, Teddy, Noel and Michael Devlin and the late Bro Edward, witnessed team manager Peter McCaughey and his team of experience and youthful exuberance bring home the Benburb Cup for the first time in a dozen years.
Dan's contribution lat committee level was just as tenacious and dedicated as his playing role. He held all of the major offices of the club at one time or other. Never one to shirk responsibility, he led from the front whether selling ballots. Nifty Fifty, Grand National Sweepstakes, stewarding at games, officiating, arguing the club case and that of hurling at county board level.
He accompanied youth teams to several Féile na nGael tournaments and always ensured that "the young boys" as he called them were looked after. He was particularly fond of souring and personally overseeing the purchase of hurls and if a hurl passed Dan's inspection it would have been good enough for Christy Ring himself. That said, the great Ring would have been lucky to get his hands on one such hurl as Dan had his own unique collection, all bought and paid for up front and cared for in his own unique way
.
There was always much temptation to get hold of Dan's hurls as retribution for the many practical jokes he played on team members, but the hurls were scared and nobody with sufficient courage could be found to raid the stash.
In latter years he alongside his friends the late Jim McIntosh and Tommy Gates were responsible for establishing the weekly draw, Nifty Fifty. Week in week out Dan collected funds and countless thousands were raised by him since the draw commenced in 1992. In fact he was one of the first sellers on duty in 1992 when the club senior team won its first Kilmacud 7's. Dan stayed behind so the draw wouldn't be missed, but he was in Croke Park the next day to see Liam Fennelly become the first man to lift the new and the old Liam McCarthy Cup. Just one of many successive finals he attended from 1959, and always, or nearly always in his preferred Hogan Stand seat. It was small reward for one who gave so much to the sport of hurling at ground level.
Dan was chairman of new millennium and led from the front, raising funds from a Night at the Dogs which gave a generous contribution to the local Marie Curie nurses. Away from hurling, his great joy was Irish National Foresters and he was always delighted to see Eoghan Ruadh teams participate in the St. Patrick's Day Parade, one day in the year when the green collarette took precedence over the white and red jersey.
In time Eoghan Ruadh will bequeath a fitting memorial to his contribution to this club, which was unbroken right up until failing health caught up with him just over a year ago. Now we mourn and remember one of our truest sons, a dedicate, driven hurling enthusiast who neither asked nor gave any quarter on the field or in the committee room for the cause of hurling and Eoghan Ruadh.To brothers Charlie, John, Anthony, Jim, Oliver, Michael and Eamon, sisters Esther and Margaret and the entire family we extend thanks and deepest sympathy. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis agus go ndeanfaidh dia trocaire ar a anam.
A tribute to Dan Morgan, From Ciaran McHugh Eoghan Ruadh Hurling Club
Courtesy of The Tyrone Times
February 1st 2011
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