Cathal McCarron

{{Short description|Irish Gaelic footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Use Irish English|date=September 2020}}

{{Infobox GAA player

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|name = Cathal McCarron

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|sport = Gaelic football

|code = Football

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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|11|9|df=y}}

|birth_place = Dromore, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

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Cathal McCarron (born 9 November 1987){{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/cathal-mccarron-s-interview-a-gamble-the-tyrone-player-lost-1.2892680|title=Cathal McCarron's interview a gamble the Tyrone player lost|website=Irish Times|date=5 December 2016}} is an All Ireland Winning Gaelic footballer for Tyrone. He plays his club football with Dromore St Dympna's, and has won 3 club championships with them. He has also played for Round Towers while in London since 2013, with the county team there interested in him.{{cite news|url=http://hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=207576|title=London set their sights on McCarron|work=Hogan Stand|date=14 January 2014|accessdate=14 January 2014}}{{cite news|first=Fintan |last=O'Toole |url=http://www.thescore.ie/cathal-mccarron-london-tyrone-1295413-Feb2014/ |title=Ex-Tyrone player Cathal McCarron to make London debut today |work=The Score |date=2 February 2014 |accessdate=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305065619/http://www.thescore.ie/cathal-mccarron-london-tyrone-1295413-Feb2014/ |archivedate= 5 March 2014 }}

McCarron has been nominated for an All Star 3 times due to his performances with Tyrone, and helped his team to the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final, which they lost to Mayo. He has coached the game for charity.{{cite news|first=Declan|last=Bogue|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/declan-bogue/cathal-mccarrons-fall-is-harsh-reality-29645047.html|title=Cathal McCarron's fall is harsh reality|work=The Belfast Telegraph|date=9 October 2013|accessdate=9 October 2013|quote=A few weeks ago, I asked Cathal if he would give up his Saturday in order to take a coaching session at Brewster Park as part of a charity event. He accepted straight away without question. He turned up and was brilliant with the kids, who were delighted to be guided by a player they watch marking the best forwards in the game.}} He has also spoken publicly of his gambling addiction.{{cite news|url=http://www.livegaelic.com/news/cathal-mccarron-enter-rehab/|title=Cathal McCarron to Enter Rehab|work=Live Gaelic|date=3 April 2014|accessdate=3 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406113442/http://www.livegaelic.com/news/cathal-mccarron-enter-rehab/|archive-date=6 April 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|first=Donnchadh|last=Boyle|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/cathal-mccarrons-gambling-woe-revealed-amid-spike-in-gpa-helpline-calls-29641675.html|title=Cathal McCarron's gambling woe revealed amid 'spike' in GPA helpline calls|work=Irish Independent|date=8 October 2013|accessdate=8 October 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=202246|title=McCarron in battle with gambling|work=Hogan Stand|date=7 October 2013|accessdate=7 October 2013}}

In April 2014 multiple pornographic[http://www.irishpost.co.uk/sport/london-manager-calls-for-privacy-over-gaa-star-mccarrons-sex-tape London boss appeals for privacy over Cathal McCarron sex tape] videos of McCarron surfaced on a gay-for-pay website. According to Queerty,{{cite web |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/i-felt-physically-sick-tyrone-star-reveals-how-he-ended-up-in-gay-porn-video-to-feed-his-gambling-addiction-35131052.html |title='I felt physically sick': Tyrone star reveals how he ended up in gay porn video to feed his gambling addiction |website=Independent.ie |date=October 14, 2016 |access-date=February 24, 2021}} McCarron deleted his social media accounts following the discovery of the video and homophobic abuse{{cite web |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/article30153180.ece |title=GAA fraternity rallies round troubled Tyrone star Cathal McCarron after gay sex video surfaces |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=12 September 2020 }} he received on social media sites.{{cite web |url=http://www.queerty.com/irish-footbal-star-cathal-mccarron-appears-in-hardcore-gay-porn-bottoms-for-tatted-daddy-20140403 |title=Irish Footbal Star Cathal McCarron Appears In Hardcore Gay Porn, Bottoms For Tatted Daddy |last=Tharrett |first=Matthew |date=April 3, 2014 |website=Queerty |access-date=February 24, 2021}}

On 20 October 2016 McCarron released his autobiography Out of Control in Ireland and the United Kingdom.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishpost.com/news/105572-2-105572 |title=Out of Control: Cathal McCarron's book is hard-hitting, disturbing in parts, but always brutally honesty |author=Irish Post |date=November 5, 2016 |website=The Irish Post |access-date=February 24, 2021}} The book discusses his experience appearing in a gay porn film and his gambling addiction.

In March of 2019, McCarron announced his retirement from county football.{{cite web |url=https://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2019/03/21/news/tyrone-s-cathal-mccarron-to-retire-from-county-football-1579031/ |title=Tyrone's Cathal McCarron to retire from county football |date= March 21, 2019 |website=The Irish News |access-date=February 24, 2021}}