Société des Missions Africaines – Province d’Irlande

né le 28 décembre 1909 diocèse de Limerick, Irlande membre de la SMA 1er juillet 1934 prêtre le 19 décembre 1937 décédé le 12 juillet 2005

1938-1969 missionnaire au Nigeria 1938-1949, vicariat de Lagos 1950-1969, archidiocèse de Lagos 1970-1978 Blackrock Road, Cork, 1978-2005 Blackrock Road, Cork, retiré décédé le 12 juillet 2005 à Cork, Irlande à l’âge de 95 ans

Daniel Joseph Daly was born at Caherhayes, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, in the diocese of Limerick, on 28th December 1909.
He died in St. Theresa’s Nursing Unit, SMA House, Blackrock Road, Cork, on 12th July 2005.

Daniel (Dan) Daly was born into a farming family near Abbeyfeale. His parents were John and Catherine (nee Murphy). As a teenager he won a scholarship to the Salesian Agricultural College in Limerick. At that time he hoped to become an Agricultural Instructor. He attributed his decision to abandon that career path and instead become a priest to the influence of Tom Galvin SMA. He came across Tom Galvin when the latter was giving a retreat in Mitchelstown. Some time later Dan wrote to John Levins, then superior of the Society’s junior secondary college at Ballinafad, Co Mayo, seeking admission. Already having had a good training in Mathematics, Latin and English, Dan’s secondary course - which took place in the Society’s senior secondary college, at Wilton, Cork - was completed within three years. Matriculating in 1932 he then entered the Society’s novitiate and house of philosophy, at Kilcolgan, Co. Galway. Two years later he was promoted to the Society’s major seminary, at Dromantine, Newry, Co Down. Dan was first received as a member of the Society on 1st July 1934. He became a permanent member on 19th June 1937. He was ordained a priest in St. Colman’s Cathedral, Newry, by Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, on 19th December 1937. He was one of a group of fifteen ordained on that day.

Dan was to serve in Africa between 1938 and 1969, with the exception of some periods when he was hospitalized in Ireland. After his ordination Dan was assigned to the Vicariate of the Bight of Benin, which had been erected in l870 and which extended over much of south-western Nigeria. Sailing on the Elder Dempster liner, the Adda, Dan arrived in Lagos, capital of the Vicariate, on 28th October 1938, to learn that the bishop, Francis O’Rourke, was on the point of death. Indeed Bishop O’Rourke was to die later that day. Phil Corish, the vicar general, who took charge in the interregnum before a new bishop was appointed, posted Dan to the mission of Ado Ekiti. Dan traveled to his mission by train as far as Oshogbo and the remainder of the journey by lorry. The population of Ado Ekiti, at that time, was some 15,000 souls of which Catholics numbered some 400. Paddy O’Donoghue was superior of Ado mission while Martin Kenny was the assistant priest. Dan soon settled into his new surroundings, enjoying the constant round of out-station visitation and the catechetical work with which he was entrusted. His second posting – given to him by Bishop Leo Taylor who had succeeded Mgr. O’Rourke in June 1939 - was to Oke Padi mission in Ibadan and occurred eighteen months into his tour of duty. Oke Padi was a bustling city parish with mission house, church and school. In addition to ordinary duties Dan and John Kilbey, the superior, took turns to cycle daily across the town to say Mass for the Sisters of St. Theresa’s Convent, Oke Ado. Dan’s final posting during his first tour was to St. Gregory's college, Ikoyi, Nigeria's first Catholic secondary school, founded in 1928. Here he taught English, Latin and Christian doctrine. Dan adapted well to the highly-regulated school life, enjoying his teaching and taking a keen interest in the school’s sporting activities.

Dan’s first tour of duty lasted five years and three months. When he returned to Ireland – he sailed in a convoy during June 1944 - he was in poor physical condition. He had suffered from frequent attacks of dysentery while in Ado-Ekiti. Later, while in St. Gregory’s, a mosquito infestation in the area caused him to endure many bouts of malaria. During his year-long vacation in Ireland, Dan’s strength gradually returned so that in 1945 he was able to return to his mission. Back in Nigeria, Bishop Taylor appointed him to Topo Island where the Vicariate had a mission settlement which included a farm, school and convent. The farm was an important source of income for the Vicariate, largely through the sale of copra, the produce of its coconut plantation. Coming from a farming background and having once considered a career in farming Dan enjoyed his time in Topo. However within six months he was required for a very different assignment, to join the staff of the teacher training college at Ile Ife. Dan was to spend four years in the Ile Ife college (1946-1950) which had been attached, originally, to St. Gregory’s in Lagos. Shortly after his arrival he became Principal of the institution. Other staff members during his tenure included Frank McCabe, Jim McCarthy and, later, Michael Walsh. Not having formally studied Education he undertook a correspondence course with London University which gave him both the confidence and expertise to discharge his duties effectively in the College. At that time the training course lasted four years and the enrolment each year was in the range of 40 students. Graduates of the college taught in the Vicariate’s elementary schools up to primary-six grade. In the last months of his tour Dan was called back to Lagos to negotiate the purchase of land for the vicariate. In this he was successful, procuring a fine site for a church and mission at Mushin and additional acres for schools.

When Dan next returned to Nigeria he was sent to Ijebu Province, north of Lagos, to Iperu, where he was entrusted with the task of building an elementary teacher training college. He spent a year living in a native house while the compound was cleared and the buildings erected. Plans for the school had been drawn up by a Mr. Boris, a Pole, married to an Irishwomen. Dan hired the labour and supervised the building construction. When the college was opened Dan became a member of its teaching staff, remaining in Iperu until 1962. Dan’s next appointment was to a recently founded parish - named after St. Anthony - at Surulere, a suburb of Lagos. Dan ministered here with Jeremiah Coakley. Their pioneering work was remembered, years after they had both left, when in September 1988, both received an invitation to attend the blessing of a new church in the parish from Anthony O. Okogie, Archbishop of Lagos. Regrettably both were unable to travel but deeply appreciated the honour.

Dan’s missionary career was punctuated by periods of illness – resultant from fragile mental health - which became more pronounced during later middle-age. During 1959 and 1960 he spent periods in St. Patrick’s hospital, Dublin. In 1969, on his return from Nigeria, he spent a longer period in St. Patrick’s Hospital, Belmont Park, Waterford. Occasionally his condition improved and he would begin to hope that he might again take on full-time work. However gradually it became clear that this would not be possible. From 1972 he accepted a part-time assignment in the SMA. house at Blackrock Road, assisting in the Main Office until January 1978 when he retired. In the years that followed Dan enjoyed relatively stable mental health, but his physical condition – and especially arthritis – began to deteriorate. Happily a successful hip operation in September 1989, gave him a new lease of life, one which lasted much longer than anyone had anticipated. The opening of St. Theresa’s unit at Blackrock Road ensured excellent care and Dan reciprocated by taking a keen interest in the welfare of all those who attended him. These last years were marked by a serenity which had been denied him during his earlier struggles with ill-health. Indeed he was to become a much loved member of the Blackrock Road community, cherished by his confreres and the nursing staff alike. In retirement as throughout all phases of his life he remained faithful to prayer, being greatly attached to the Rosary and to contemplation of the Blessed Sacrament. Thankfully his mind retained its sharpness up to the end of his life.

A significant element in Dan’s spiritual life was his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In Cork he was to become a leading figure in the Marian Movement for Priests and was also involved in various lay Marian Prayer Groups. Within the Blackrock community he constantly promoted Marian devotion and – possessing a great appreciation for flowers – saw to it that Our Lady’s altar was adorned each week with fresh bouquets paid for from his own funds. Dan’s use of money in latter years reflected the thrust of his spiritual life. Much of it was given away to the Vincent de Paul and the Samaritans or to one or other of the Marian movements. Dan celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of his ordination on 19th December 1997. At the time of his death – aged 95 years and some six months - he was the oldest member of the Irish Province.

He is buried in Wilton Cemetery.