Biographies A-Z

Daly, James Joseph (1899/1900–1920), Connaught Rangers mutineer, was born at the home of his maternal grandmother in Ballymoe on the Galway–Roscommon border, fourth son of James Daly, former British soldier and baker, and Katherine Daly (née Crean). He returned to the family home at…

Daly, John (1845–1916), Fenian, was born 18 October 1845 in the suburbs of Limerick city, third son of John Daly, foreman in a local timber yard, and Margaret Daly (née Hayes) of Fedamore. Educated at Moneywell national school and Limerick city…

Daly, John James (John Joseph) (1880–1969), Olympic athlete, was born 22 February 1880 in Dowriss, Kilmoylan, Co. Galway, one of ten surviving children of Patrick Daly, farmer, originally from Co. Clare, and Sabina Daly (née King). A member of Galway Harriers AC, Daly displayed his…

Daly, Leo (1920–2010), writer, was born on 23 January 1910 in Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, one of seven children (six boys and a girl) of William Daly, a railway engine driver, and his wife Rebecca (née Forman). Leo was educated locally at the Presentation convent, St Mary's CBS Boy's…

Daly, Maureen Patricia (1921–2006), journalist and novelist, was born 15 March 1921 in Castlecaulfield, Co. Tyrone, daughter of Joseph Daly (d. 1944), owner of a bicycle shop in Castlecaulfield, and his wife Margaret Mellon (née Kelly), who had been born in Glasgow to an Irish…

Daly, Miriam (1928–80), historian and political activist, was born Miriam Annette McDonnell at the Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare, on 16 May 1928, daughter of Commandant Daniel McDonnell (d. 1972) and his wife Anne McDonnell (née Cummins); she had one sister. Her father came from a Dublin…

Daly, Patrick Thomas (1870–1943), republican and trade unionist, was born 2 December 1870 in Cumberland St., Dublin, son of John Daly, tailor, and Mary Daly (née Murphy). After attending a local national school he served an apprenticeship as a compositor. In 1892 he began working in…

Daly, Peter (1788/9–1868), turbulent priest, was born probably in the neighbourhood of Galway city, in humble circumstances; other details of his family background are not known. Matriculating at Maynooth college (1 September 1812), he was ordained (1815), briefly held two…

Daly, Richard (1758–1813), theatrical manager, was born in Co. Galway, second son of Joseph Daly, a prosperous farmer. He entered TCD in 1773, but there is no record of his taking a degree. A reckless and violent character, he was said…

Daly, Robert (1783–1872), Church of Ireland bishop of Cashel, was born 8 June 1783 in Dunsandle, Co. Galway, younger son of Denis Daly (qv), Galway politician, and his wife Henrietta, only daughter and heiress of Robert Maxwell, 1st earl…

Daly, Sir Dominick (1798–1868), colonial administrator, was born 11 August 1798 at Ardfry, Co. Galway, third son of Dominick Daly of Benmore, Co. Galway, and his wife Joanna Harriet, daughter of Joseph Blake of Ardfry, widow of Richard Burke of Glinsk, and sister to Joseph Henry Blake,…

Daly, Sir Henry Dermot (1821–95), Indian army general and colonial administrator, was born 25 October 1821 at Daly's Grove, Co. Galway, the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel Francis Dermot Daly of the 4th light dragoons, and his first wife Mary (née McIntosh), the daughter of Captain…

Daly, Thomas (‘Tommy’) (1894–1936), hurler, was born 15 September 1894 at Tulla, Co. Clare, son of John Daly, a shopkeeper, and Sarah Daly (née Quinlan). He was educated at St Flannan's College, Ennig, Co. Clare. His love of Gaelic games and his innate talent as a hurling…

Damer, Joseph (c.1630–1720), land agent and moneylender, was born at Godmanston in Dorset, to John Damer, of a landowning family established in Somerset and Dorset, and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. William Maber. The couple also had several daughters and five…

Damnait (Dympna) (6th cent.), foundress of Tech Damnatan at Sliab Betha and a saint in the Irish tradition, is associated with the minor lineage of Uí Laga, located among the Conaille, on the border of Co. Louth and Co. Monaghan. It is unclear whether she should be identified…

Danby, Francis (1793–1861), landscape painter, was born 16 November 1793 at Common, Killinick, Co. Wexford. The family had been established in this area since the 1730s. His father, James Danby, landowner, married first (1762) Susannah, daughter of the Rev. Ambrose Harvey of…

Daniel (d. 863), grandson of Liathaite, poet and dual abbot of Lismore and Cork, was initially, it appears, airchinnech (superior) of Lismore, in succession to Flann son of Fairchellach who died on 21 December 825. It may have been viking pressure on the ecclesiastical…

Daniel (Ó Domhnuill, O'Donnell), William (1570–1628), Church of Ireland archbishop of Tuam and translator of the New Testament into Irish, was a son of Nicholas Daniel of Kilkenny; nothing is known of his mother. During his youth he became a protestant, probably under the…

Danvers, Henry (1573–1644), earl of Danby , army officer and lord president of Munster, was born 28 June 1573 at Dauntsey, Wiltshire, the second son of Sir John Danvers of Dauntsey and Elizabeth, youngest daughter and coheir of John Neville, last Baron Latimer. Appointed to his…

Darbiled (Derbiled, Dervilla) (fl. 575–600), anchoress and foundress of Inis Cethig on the Erris peninsula in Co. Mayo, and a saint in the Irish tradition, was – according to the metrical version of the genealogies of the saints – linked to the Connacht dynasty of Uí…

Darby, John Nelson (1800–82), religious leader and writer, was born 18 November 1800 in Great George's St., London, sixth and youngest son of John Darby and Anne Darby (née Vaughan); there were also three daughters, one of whom married (1806)…

Darby, John Patrick (1941–2012), social and political scientist, was born on 18 November 1940 at 149 Springfield Road, Belfast, where his parents Sadie (née Mackle) and Patrick Darby ran a pub. When he was a young child his family moved to Portrush, Co. Antrim, where he attended St…

Darby, Tom (1928–2009), trade unionist, was born in Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath, on 28 February 1928, one of seven children of James Darby, a labourer, and his wife Rachel (née Keenan). His family was poor and, after leaving Kinnegad national school at age 14, he worked locally as a turf…

D'Arcy, Charles Frederick (1859–1938), Church of Ireland clergyman, bishop, and religious writer, was born 2 January 1859 in Dublin, son of John Charles D'Arcy, cashier to the Great Southern & Western Railway, and Henrietta Anna D'Arcy (née Brierly). On both sides of the family D'…

Darcy (D'Arcy), Patrick (1725–79), soldier, Jacobite, and scientist, was born 27 September 1725 in Kiltulla, four miles from Athenry, Co. Galway, son of John Darcy and his wife Jane, daughter of Sir Robert Blosse Lynch of Castlecurra. Sent in 1739 at the age of 14 to France, where his…