WITH the death of Daniel Mooney, the parish of Drumgath in Co Down lost a true friend, character and leader – and above all, a downright good person.
Daniel was one of those special people whom, once met, you never forgot. The many who travelled from far and wide to attend his wake and funeral bore testament to that.
Daniel was first and foremost a family man, devoted to Marie, his wife of more than five decades.
They first met at the Fairways in 1969, and Daniel was warmly welcomed into the Doran family and the parish of Killeavy and Ayollogue.
They married in 1972 and set up home in Rathfriland, before moving a few years later to the family home and farm in Drumgath.
Daniel spent a lifetime milking cows alongside his hard-working father, Patrick.
His mother, Bridget, was the kindest of women and ran the local post office and shop with Daniel’s two dear sisters, Mary and Margaret.
It was a ceili house seven nights a week, as was common in those days, where people came from all around to hear the news and enjoy the craic.
Daniel loved animals – dogs, cats, cows, you name it. He cared for birds too, and anyone who dared to hunt on local land would receive a right telling-off, to put it mildly.
With two farms a mile apart, life was not always easy. He was often seen walking cows up the road for milking; they usually arrived a good few minutes before him because he had stopped to chat with neighbours along the way.
He milked cows until 2014, when he moved into suckler farming, switching from Friesians and Montbeliardes to Herefords.
He loved looking at his Herefords on top of Tamary Hill, one of his favourite places on earth. From there, he could look across the six counties, with the Sperrins and Slieve Gullion on one side and the Belfast Hills and Slieve Donard on the other.
Daniel Mooney
Seven children arrived between 1973 and 1985. Throughout those busy years Daniel worked hard on the farm, but always made time for his family.
Holidays were usually spent in Salthill, or somewhere else not too far from home. He did venture to France one year – probably not for him, but certainly enjoyed by the rest of the family.
A kind and good-natured man, Daniel’s priorities were his family and farm, but he had other interests too: playing cards in the local pub, Johnny Arthur’s, going to the races and enjoying the odd pint and flutter. His greatest passion beyond family and farming, however, was Drumgath GAC.
Daniel captained the club in the 1960s and remained intensely proud of its progress.
He coached juvenile teams and held most roles within the club, including two terms as chairman, and remained a club trustee until the end. He served on hardworking committees that gave countless hours. Daniel and his friends wanted nothing in return, only the best for their beloved Drumgath.
He took great pride in seeing his sons, daughters and later grandchildren play for the club. He followed them everywhere, whether to football matches or feiseanna, always encouraging them to do their best.
Daniel also followed his beloved red and black the length and breadth of the country. From 1959 to 2010 he attended 49 out of 51 All-Ireland football finals, including Down’s five famous victories.
He had a great fondness for storytelling and singing, often well after midnight in the residents’ bar at a family wedding or local function. Many people remember the songs he sang on those occasions, from his old favourite, Raglan Road, to Caledonia.
Daniel died aged on August 30 2025.
As he watches over Tamary Hill, he is remembered as a man full of life, kindness, wisdom, leadership and craic – someone who will never be forgotten.
** The Irish News publishes a selection of readers’ obituaries each Saturday. Families or friends are invited to send in accounts of anyone they feel has made a contribution to their community or simply led an interesting or notable life. Call Aeneas Bonner on 028 9040 8360 or email a.bonner@irishnews.com.