Seán Purcell

{{Short description|Galway Gaelic footballer}}

{{More citations needed|date=August 2022}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox Gaelic games player

| code= Football

| sport = Gaelic football

| image =

| name = Seán Purcell

| nickname = The Master{{cite news |first=Enda |last=McEvoy |author2=Kieran Shannon |author3=Dave Hannigan |author4=PJ Cunningham |author5=Malachy Clerkin |author6=Pat Nugent |title=125 Most Influential People in GAA History |work=Sunday Tribune |date=4 January 2009 |accessdate=28 January 2009 |url=http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/jan/04/125-most-influential-people-in-gaa-history-100-76/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809020609/http://www.tribune.ie/article/2009/jan/04/125-most-influential-people-in-gaa-history-100-76/ |archivedate=9 August 2009 }}

| irish = Seán Puircell

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1928|12|17}}

| birth_place=Tuam, Galway, Ireland

| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2005|8|27|1928|12|17}}

| county = Galway

| province = Connacht

| club = Tuam Stars

| clposition = Centre forward

| clubs = Tuam Stars

| clyears = 1947–1962

| clapps(points) =

| clcounty = 10

| counties = Galway

| icposition = Centre forward

| icyears = 1947–1961

| icapps(points) =

| icprovince = 7

| icallireland = 1

}}

Seán Purcell (17 December 1928– 27 August 2005),{{cite web|title=Gifted footballer and very modest gentleman|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/gifted-footballer-and-very-modest-gentleman-1.488213|website=The Irish Times|accessdate=19 February 2018|date=3 September 2005}} was a Gaelic footballer who played at senior level for the Galway county team.

Best known as a centre half-forward, he played in most outfield positions during his career. In 2009 he was named in the Sunday Tribune{{'}}s list of the "125 Most Influential People In GAA History".

Born in Tuam, County Galway, Purcell was educated at Tuam Christian Brothers School and St Jarlath's College. He played in the St Jarlath's College side that won the Hogan Cup in 1947,{{cite web|last1=McDonagh|first1=Michelle|title=Final goodbye to the revered Sean Purcell|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/final-goodbye-to-the-revered-sean-purcell-1.486775|website=The Irish Times|accessdate=14 February 2018|date=1 September 2005}} beating St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh in the final at Croke Park in Dublin. His nickname "The Master" originated when he taught at Strawberry Hill National School in Dunmore.

His footballing career spanned three decades, from the 1940s to the 1960s. Purcell formed a successful on-field partnership with Frank Stockwell at Galway, culminating in the team winning their fourth All-Ireland championship in 1956 and leading to their nickname as the "Terrible Twins".{{cite web|title=Tributes paid to Sean Purcell|url=https://www.rte.ie/news/2005/0828/66932-purcells/|website=Raidió Teilifís Éireann|accessdate=19 February 2018|date=28 August 2005}}{{cite web|title=Legendary Frank donned the red and white of Louth for a year|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/legendary-frank-donned-the-red-and-white-of-louth-for-a-year-26931727.html|website=Irish Independent|accessdate=19 February 2018|date=18 March 2009}}

Further successes in which Purcell was involved include winning the League title in 1957, three Railway Cups, one of which he captained, the 1950 Sigerson Cup, appearances with the Combined Universities side and ten county titles with the Tuam Stars, including seven in a row from 1954 to 1960.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

His involvement in the GAA continued long after his playing days as he served in a number of positions as team mentor and administrator in Galway.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

In 1984, the GAA's centenary year, he was named on the GAA's Football Team of the Century and the organisation's Football Team of the Millennium in 1999. In 1984 the Sunday Independent invited readers to vote for their Team of the Century. Purcell won more votes than any other player. In 1991 he was inducted into the All-Stars All-Time Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was named on the St Jarlath's All Stars team.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

Seán Purcell died on 27 August 2005, aged 76. His son, Robert Purcell, married Tessa Robinson daughter of former Irish President Mary Robinson, in 2005.{{Cite web |last=Shiel |first=Tom |date=5 September 2005 |title=Happy couple make it all legal on the day |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/happy-couple-make-it-all-legal-on-the-day/25964753.html |access-date=23 June 2023 |website=Irish Independent}}

His grandson Simon Carr is a professional tennis player.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/arid-20440208.html|title=Simon Carr Q&A: 'I know I can compete with all the guys here, I've beaten most of them'|work=Irish Examiner|date=22 January 2017}} Another grandson, Sam McCartan, has played Gaelic football at senior level for Westmeath.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/purcell-to-kilkenny-and-mccartan-the-generation-game-of-the-gaa-41765437.html|title=Purcell to Kilkenny and McCartan: the generation game of the GAA|work=Irish Independent|first=Frank|last=Roche|date=18 June 2022|quote=Given that he’s only 22 and his maternal grandfather died in 2005, it's hardly a surprise that Sam McCartan's memories of Seán Purcell are 'quite vague and scratchy'.}} In 2022, his teenage grandson, Rory Purcell, died.{{Cite web |last=Fanneran |first=Vinny |date=6 September 2023 |title=Galway GAA legend's grandson tragically dies as tributes flow for 'beautiful' young man |url=https://www.galwaybeo.ie/news/galway-news/galwaygaanews-deathnotices-howth-football-news-6604576 |website=Galway Beo}}