Laois All-Ireland winner and ‘teak-tough’ Courtwood defender from the 1960s-70s mourned

Courtwood GAA paid a glowing tribute to one of its former greats from 1960 & 1970s who passed away recently. It was with deep sadness and immense pride that Dan Luttrell was remembered by all who knew him.

A devoted family man, a progressive farmer, a proud Courtwood man, and a stellar servant of Laois football. Dan’s life was shaped by values of loyalty, honesty, hard work, and community values that he lived every day and passed on quietly by example. Dan passed away after a short illness on Thursday, January 8, in his 78th year.

Formerly of Fisherstown, and more recently Derrydavy Mountmellick, he is predeceased by his parents Simon & Anna, infant brother Garrett and more recently by his younger brother Joe.  He is survived by his loving wife Dorothy, children Adrian, Amanda, Catherine, Doireann & Deirdre, his sisters Betty & Mary, his brothers Johnny, Jude, Garry & Noel, sons-in-law Niall, Dessie, Vinny, daughter-in-law Mary and grandchildren.

Dan was one of the key players for Laois during one of the county’s more memorable eras. As a young player, he was part of a remarkable generation that brought success and belief back to Laois football, winning the Leinster Minor Championship in 1966 and the Leinster Under-21 Championship in 1969. In between those triumphs, Dan lined out at corner back in the 1968 Leinster Senior Final, alongside his Courtwood clubmate Tommy Dunne, on a day when Laois came up short against a better-prepared Longford side.

That period in mid to late 1960s  saw Laois contest 6 Leinster finals across all grades in 6 years, with Dan appearing in 3 of them, a great achievement that he always spoke of with pride, particularly the great victories over Kildare and Offaly that carried the team to the final stages of the Leinster Senior championship in 1968. In that Offaly match coming up against the legendary Iron man from Rhode (Paddy McCormack) was a daunting task that he relished and came out well on top.

One of the highlights of Dan’s inter-county career came in 1973, when he was part of the first Laois football team to win an All-Ireland title, capturing the All-Ireland Junior Football Championship. To achieve that milestone alongside fellow Courtwood men Paddy Dunne and Ned Flynn meant everything to him. He treasured the friendships forged during that campaign and was especially proud to reunite with so many teammates in 2023 to mark the 50th anniversary of that historic success.

Larry O'Loughlin, who was part of that success and one of a small group that organised the 50-year anniversary of that success in 2023, remembers Dan as playing a significant part in that triumph with his resolute defending and inspirational clearances.

At club level, Dan’s name is inseparable from Courtwood GAA. He was a central figure in the club’s breakthrough years, winning the Laois Junior Championship in 1970 and following it with the Intermediate Championship in 1971, memorable victories against Abbeyleix and Portarlington that ended years of heartbreak, disappointment, and near misses. Two minor and two U-21 County titles, along with his Courtwood team mates, were won with the Emo parish team in the late 1960s. Those county final days live long in family memory, spoken of with warmth and pride.

Throughout the 1970s, Dan was a commanding presence in the full-back line, strong, uncompromising, and utterly committed. One match in particular, the thrilling end-to-end encounter with Graiguecullen in the mid 1970s, remains etched in the memories of Courtwood supporters. Courtwood came agonisingly close on that day to reaching their first senior county final, which was only surpassed last year when they came up short against Portarlington. You would not have found two prouder or more passionate Courtwood men than Dan and his late brother Joe on that day. The dream of a first senior title was so close, and that belief, that Courtwood could stand with anyone, never left him.

Dan’s contribution to the club extended far beyond his playing days. In the 1970s, he served simultaneously as Secretary and Treasurer of Courtwood GAA, giving countless hours to ensure the club thrived. That sense of service ran deep in the Luttrell family. Dan’s father, Simon Luttrell, was the first Chairman of Courtwood GAA, helping to lay the foundations upon which generations have since built, and his brothers Noel, Garry and the late Joe also played in the white of Courtwood, as did his nephew Danny, who also lined out for Laois. Dan also had an interest in hurling and played with Annanough club on a few occasions.

After settling in Derrydavy, Dan’s priorities became more focused on family & farming as he played out his football career with The Rock, whom he also trained to reach finals in 1984 & 85. Above all else, Dan was a family man who took enormous pride in his own people, his club, and his neighbourhood.

He measured success not just in medals, but in friendships, shared memories, and loyalty to where he lived. A large attendance of family, friends, neighbors and sports colleagues attended his removal, where lots of matches were replayed, wins, losses, memories of dressing room commotions, training techniques, on-field clashes, off-field friendship and match day preparations & celebrations were recounted and relived.

Dan Luttrell will be remembered as a devoted family man, a lifelong farmer, a helpful neighbour, a proud sportsman, a loyal clubman, and a man who embodied the values of Courtwood GAA. READ MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Laois team that won the All Ireland Junior final in 1973 - Mick Dooley, Jim Miller, Andy Fennell, Brian Nerney, Seamus Fleming, Eddie Harte, Danny Luttrell, Tim Clancy, Denis Booth, Paddy Dunne, Ned Flynn, Seamus Whelan, Eamon Whelan, Paddy Lawlor, Danny Doogue

All-Ireland Junior Football Championship 1973

The Laois team and panel was: Seamus Whelan (The Heath); Paddy Lawlor (Emo), Eddie Harte (Graiguecullen), Danny Luttrell (Courtwood); Tim Clancy (Timahoe), Jim Miller (Annanough), Paddy Dunne (Courtwood); Brian Nerney (O’Dempsey’s), Eamon Whelan – Captain (Portlaoise); Ned Flynn (Courtwood), Seamus Fleming (St Joseph’s), Mick Dooley (Portlaoise); Danny Doogue (Graiguecullen), Andy Fennell (Graiguecullen), Denis Booth (The Heath). Subs: Tom Dowling (Emo), Brian Fenlon (Emo), Pat Miller (Annanough), Noel Behan (O’Dempsey’s), Jim Mangan (Portarlington), Mattie Bergin (The Heath), Larry O’Loughlin (Rosenallis), Terry McCague (Portarlington).

On 24 July 1966, Laois won their second Leinster Minor Football Championship title with a 1-10 to 0-7 win over Offaly in the final at Park. Laois went on to play Down in the All-Ireland Minor Football Championship semi-final but, after a 1-11 to 2-8 draw, Laois were beaten 3-8 to 2-4 in the replay in Navan on 28 August.

Team: Sean Delaney (Stradbally), Danny Luttrell (Courtwood), Tom Manley (Portarlington), Andy Fennell (Graiguecullen), Paddy Dunne (Courtwood), Seamus Doran (Portlaoise), Jim Mangan (Portarlington), Donal Hoare (Portlaoise), Seamus Fleming (St Josephs), PJ Payne (Mountmellick), Paddy Lawlor (Emo) Kevin O'Brien(St Joseph's), Johnny Lawlor (Emo), Leo Brennan (St Joseph's), Matt Hyland (The Heath).

The full Laois team that lost to Longford in 1968 Leinster Senior Football Final: Paddy Bracken (Portlaoise); Danny Luttrell (Courtwood), John Conway (Arles), Jimmy Leonard (Stradbally); Tom Walsh (Portlaoise), Gabriel Lawlor (Emo), Kieran Brennan (St Joseph’s); Eamonn Mulhall (Ballyroan), Seamus Fleming (St Joseph’s); Johnny Lawlor (Emo), Tommy Dunne (Courtwood), Brian Delaney (Portlaoise); JJ Conway (Arles), Brian Lawlor (Emo), Mick Fennell (Graiguecullen). 

On 9 August 1969, Laois won their second Leinster U21 Football Championship title with a 2-7 to 2-6 win over Wicklow in the final. Laois went on to play Roscommon in the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship semi-final but were beaten 2-13 to 0-9 in Roscommon on 23 August.

Team: Tony Burke (Killeshin), Danny Luttrell (Courtwood), Tom Manley (Portarlington),  Eamonn Roycroft (Portarlington), Tom Clancy (Timahoe), Christy Murphy,(Portarlington), Liam Delaney (Arles),  Ivor Houlihan (Mountmellick), Bobby Miller (Timahoe), Stevie Allen (Portarlington), Seamus Fleming (St Joseph's). Johnny Lawlor (Emo), John Clancy (Timahoe), Paddy Lawlor (Emo), Har Mulhare (Portlaoise), Leo Brennan (St Joseph's)

May Dan rest in peace.