Lewis Macari is proud to carry on the family tradition but insists the famous surname carries no extra weight.
Quite the opposite in fact, as the grandson of Manchester United and Celtic legend Lou Macari feels liberated embracing senior football for the first time.
Stoke City boss MIchael O’Neill felt the defender, 20, was ready to test himself outside the sanitised world of English Under-23s football.
And having managed Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell during his Shamrock Rovers days, O’Neill provided a glowing reference.
He has started all but one of the Lilywhites 17 games and, going into tonight’s clash with St Pat’s, continues to impress.
“When I play, it doesn’t come into my head that my granddad had a good career in the game,” Macari told Mirror Sport.
“It’s something I never really think about. I’m just trying to do my own thing and I’m trying to do it to the best of my ability.”
His deal is up in the summer, but an extension for the remainder of the season has not been ruled out.
“I've really enjoyed it and it's a completely different challenge to academy football at Stoke,” explained Macari, whose dad Paul also played for Stoke.
“I wasn't at my best in the first few matches as I was nervous and the pace and physicality of men's football took me by surprise, but it’s a really good challenge.”
Macari continued: “Another thing is the crowds. At Under-23s you might get a few Stoke fans and family, but not big roaring crowds like you get here.
“The first walk out against Derry City on the opening night, I had goosebumps from the roar of the crowd and the madness of the Shed End when we scored.
“At right-back, you’re very close to it and while it’s nothing but encouragement at home, it’s grief when you’re away but that’s all part of the game and I relish it.
“It's a really good standard here and it goes under the radar in England when, really, it shouldn’t as there are some excellent players here who are well coached.”
On the pitch, Dundalk have responded in style to last month’s narrow defeat to Shamrock Rovers and chase a fourth win in-a-row tonight.
The win away to Derry City was particularly sweet, according to Macari, but their record against St Pat’s is grim with just one win in their last eight meetings.
Last week, Candystripes boss Ruaidhri Higgins couldn’t believe that third-placed Dundalk were being allowed to fly under the radar.
But Macari - who shares a house with team-mates Greg Sloggett, Sam Bone and John Martin - laughed: “We said the same but that’s how we like it!
“All the talk is about Derry, who had a flying start, and Shamrock Rovers who are picking off the points and sit top of the league.
“But we've done well and we’ve only lost two games this season. There hasn't been much talk about us, but we don't mind that.
“We’re on a good run and we'll just keep trying to do the business and get as high up to the table as we can.”
Meanwhile, St Pat’s travel to Oriel Park buoyed after a 3-0 win over Bohs on Monday having lost at home to Shelbourne three day before that.
And Saints boss Tim Clancy has hailed on-loan West Ham goalkeeper Joseph Anang after his heroics against the Gypsies.
Anang made a slew of first-half saves and Clancy said: “Joe has been excellent for us this season and is getting better with games. We're capitalising on it.”
