James McCartan, Senior


James McCartan, Senior is a former Northern Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local Tullylish club and was a member of the Down senior inter-county team from the 1950s until the 1960s.
McCartan played primarily as a forward, and was a major figure in Down's All-Ireland victories of 1960 and 1961. McCartan's credits include Ulster senior football medals and Railway Cup medals. He also won two National League medals, in 1960 and 1962. He was Texaco Footballer of the Year two years in a row in 1960 and 1961.
Once his playing days came to an end he served as manager of the Down team during the 1980s when there won the 1982–83 National Football League.
His son, James McCartan, Junior, won All-Ireland medals with Down in 1991 and 1994; he has also been manager of the Down senior football team and led them to the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. His younger son Daniel plays with the Down team at present and played in the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.