Dermot Ó Daly facts for kids

Dermot O Daly was an important Irish landlord who lived a long time ago, from about 1574 to 1614. He was an ancestor of many people, including the noble family known as Baron Dunsandle and Clanconal.

Who Was Dermot O Daly?

Dermot O Daly's father was Teige, and his grandfather was John O Daly. John O Daly built a strong tower called Killimor Keep when King Henry VIII was ruling England. Some old family records suggest Dermot came from a famous family of poets called the Ó Dálaigh, but historians are not completely sure about this.

A historian named James Noel Dillion believed that Dermot O Daly was very good at finding opportunities to get ahead. He became successful quickly because he strongly supported the English government. He thought that if people adopted English customs and laws, it would bring peace and stability to the land.

Dermot's Active Life

Dermot O Daly first appeared in official records in 1570. He and his family lived in a place called Laragh, in the parish of Killimordaly. They were known as "the Earl of Clanricarde's men," meaning they were loyal to a powerful Irish noble who often worked with the English.

Because of his help to the government, Queen Elizabeth I gave Dermot O Daly a large area of land and castles called the Manor or Lordship of Lerra on June 21, 1578. Dermot even had his own small army. His castle at Laragh was very important because it was on a main road, the Laragh Road, leading to the town of Athenry. In 1581, he was listed among the important gentlemen in Connacht who owed money to the government.

In January 1597, his lands were attacked by Hugh Roe Ó Donnell, a powerful Irish leader. Many of his cattle were stolen, and his tenants and neighbors were killed or later died from hunger. Despite this, Dermot O Daly continued to support the English. He fought alongside the Earl of Clanricarde on the English side at the famous Battle of Kinsale in 1601.

Life After the War

After the war ended in 1603, peace returned. Dermot O Daly adapted to the new English ways of farming. He encouraged families with different skills and trades to move to his area. He also promoted new farming methods, like draining wet lands, quarrying stone, clearing land of bushes, and harvesting hay. These changes helped reduce the need for animals to roam freely in winter, making farming more organized.

Dermot's Children

Dermot O Daly had several children who continued his family line:

• Teige of Killimor: He married Sisily Kelly and had children. They finished building Killimor Castle in 1624. Teige passed away in 1642.
• Dermot of Clonbrusk Castle: He lived in Athenry, married, and had children.
• Donagh of Laragh: He was an ancestor of the Raford and Dunsandle families.
• Fergananim of Oughtercluny: He lived in Clonfert, married, and had children.
• Godfrey of Newcastle: He lived in Athenry and was an ancestor of the Dalysgrove and Castle Daly families.

Notable Descendants

Many important people are descendants of Dermot O Daly, including:

• Denis Daly (M.P.) (1748-1791)
• St George Daly (1758-1829)
• Robert Daly, D.D. (1783–1872)
• James Daly, 1st Baron Dunsandle and Clanconal (1782-1847)
• Dominick Daly (1798–1868)