Charlie Daly

Charlie Daly

Charlie Daly, second son of Con. W. Daly, of Knockanescoulten, Firies, Kerry, was born August 10th, 1896. He attended the local National School and later the Christian Brothers' School, Tralee (1912 - 1915). He cycled the long distance - 8 miles from his home to Tralee daily. 1914 A company of Irish Volunteers was formed in the neighbouring parish, Currans, in 1914, and Con. W. and his sons, Willie, Charlie and Tom were among the first members. Con-Billy was almost 60 and the wise-acres laughed at the old fool drilling in the company of his schoolboy sons. Charlie was Adjutant of Currans Coy. from 1914 - 1917. He was a proud boy when he got a Lee-Enfield rifle and he spent hours at rifle practice with his father and brothers.

1916
Tuesday of Easter Week brought news of the Rising. Charlie attended a Coy. Meeting in Currens that night. He hurried home with the news that Kerry was rising and all Volunteers were to meet at Camp, Castleisland, that night. Charlie took his rifle, Tom, too young to own a rifle, went with him, Willie was away from home. Con-Billy declared he would go, it was the day he had waited for all his life and he could shoot as straight as any young fellow. Charlie and Tom (and the crying of the younger members of the family) prevailed on him to stay at home. He spent the night on the lookout for flames that would show the fight was on. Nothing happened. Next morning at eight o'clock, the boys came home. A countermanding order had come and Kerry should wait for another day.

Shortly after the rising, our home was raided by RIC. Paddy was the first of a long line of men who came to Dalys and that was the first of many raids from 1916 - 1923.

1916 - 1917
Charlie worked on the farm, and at night organised Sinn Fein and taught Irish classes in Firies and Farranmore as well as being an active Volunteer. During meals, I remember he studied a little red-backed Military Manual or an Irish book. He was often late for the family Rosary but never went to bed without saying it.

A fracas arose at Currens Pattern fair on the evening of May 6th 1917. RIC attempted to disperse the Pattern crowd and they turned and stoned the police. Chalie jumped on the fence and called on the crowd to let the police go - a month later he was arrested for inciting a riot. At his trial in Tralee, he refused to recognise the Court. The RM had never met with a case like this before. He said "I have no power to deal with a man who does not recognise the Court", and the prisoner walked out a free man. A few days later a new warrant was out for his arrest and Charlie went on the run. He slept in a "Dug-out" near home and otherwise carried on as usual. On September 4th, 1918, he was arrested in the house of a friend in Tralee. He resisted arrest and tried to draw his revolver. He was badly beaten by the RIC after arrest and was sentenced to two years hard labour in Cork Gaol. He served his sentence in the Gaol Bakery because he always liked to do a bit of baking.

1919
Released in June 1919 because of his health, he took up his work once more. While in prison, he had been elected to Kerry County Council. This year he made Adj. Firies Batt. and later, A.M. Kerry 2 Brigade. At this time also he was appointed organiser of the Dail Loan in Kerry. He cycled to every town, village and farmhouse in the country. This is why he was so well known in his native county. He attended meetings in Dublin as representative of Kerry Co. Council.

1920
In March, 1920 he took part in the successful attack on Gortlee barracks, the first in Ireland. Tom and Willie were with him in this. In June, 1920 he was in the attack on Brosna barracks. In September, 1920 Charlie was sent by G.H. to organise the IRA in Tyrone. While in Dublin on official business, he was arrested at the home of John O'Mahony, 39, De Courcy Sq. on New Years Day, 1921. The name he gave when arrested was that of a Kerryman who was teaching in Tyrone at that time (Moynihan, I think). He must have had an understanding with Moynihan because the teacher had to disappear until Charlie was released in March, 1921. The authorities must have concluded that Charlie had returned to Kerry. In a huge round up of his native district, the infamous Major McKennon read the following proclamation: "That anybody sheltering Thomas McEllistrin, John Cronin, Maurice Carmothy and Charlie Daly would have their houses burned and themselves hanged by the neck".

A few hours after Charlie's release from Collenstown Internment Camp, the British captured a letter that revealed his identity. O'Mahony's was again raided, but he was not there. He returned to the North and did not visit his home until after the Truce.

He became O/C Second Northern Division about May, 1921. This commission was confirmed by Cathal Brugha, Minister of Defence on November, 1921. It is the only commission of its kind now in existence and is in the National Museum. Tom gave it to Mr O'Heaney, then Deputy Keeper of Irish Antiquities for inclusion in the 1916 Collection. (Anna Kelly tells about it in an article in the "Irish Press", March 14th, 1939. She says Mr O'Heaney served under Charlie in Donegal).

1922
Charlie opposed the Treaty. The letters which passed between him and O'Duffy at this time are in possession of the Daly family. These letters and several written to his father show what a heartbreak the Treaty and the Split were to him. He wrote home frequently from the time he went to the North until his death in Drumboe, and these letters, still in possession of the family, give a very full account of his thoughts, if not necessarily his movements at that time. He spent Christmas 1921 with his family. His last visit home was at Whit., 1922.

Our home was burned by military and Black-and-Tans on May 9th, 1921 as an act of reprisal. Tom was Adj. Kerry Two Brigade, Asst. Adj. 1st Southern Divistion and Adj. General IRA. He died in Lourdes Hospital, Dublin, August 21st, 1939. The 42 days hunger strike of 1923 undermined his health. Willie, D.Q./M. Firies Batt., IRA, died on December, 1944.

Con, the youngest of the Daly men was too young to take part in the 1916-1923 fight. He stayed on the farm but carried out the family tradition of being a member of the IRA until his sudden death on August, 1951.

Con Billy died May 30, 1937, at 81 years. My mother died on New Year's Eve, 1954, and is buried with her husband and four sons and two daughters who predeceased her, in Kiltallagh. This is where Charlie answered Mass as a boy.

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