Anthony Daly 8

Anthony Daly's story from the 20th century includes the development of a memorial in his honor in Calricum, discussions about displacing his headstone in the graveyard, and the eventual erection of a new monument over his resting place. A memorial dedicated to him was revealed in 1961, with an oration condemning the Irish Government for not restoring land to the native people. Daly's ghost is said to haunt a house where a window was installed to view his hanging. His story lives on as a motivation for fighting injustice and oppression in East Galway. Daly's legacy continues, inspiring others to fight for freedom in the area marked by conflict and rebellion against the gentry. Anthony Daly's story lives all the way towards the end of the 20th century. The Connaught Tribune reported on the 11th of August, 1956, that on the following Monday a meeting would be held in Calricum to develop a plan to erect a Sussbund memorial to his memory. A fortnight later, a letter appeared in the paper from the Anthony Daly Memorial Committee. It discussed the displacement of the Daly Headstone in Calricum Graveyard as a result of work done by the County Council. The committee continued to meet, and on the 139th anniversary of Daly's death, a new monument was erected over his resting place. The committee began funding for a Sussbund memorial to the memory of the martyred Ribbon Man. Eventually, on the 22nd of July, 1961, the Connaught Tribune reported that a monument dedicated to Anthony Daly would be revealed by Father John Fahey on the 15th of August. The Connaught Tribune reported that Father Fahey of Fafey, Celtic Orle, gave an oration condemning the Irish Government for their failure to restore the land to the native people. The Sussbund scribes and those congregated at Stephen Hill for the unveiling of the Celtic Cross at the spot where Anthony Daly was hanged 141 years previously. Remembering a pilgrimage to Stephen Hill 30 years before, the priest stated that he wished then that a monument would be erected to honour Daly's memory. In the 1950s, Hollywood film director John Huston purchased the St. Clarence Manor. A window was installed for the family to view the hanging, which was eventually bricked up again as it distressed the landlord's family. Huston, the father to the famous actor Angelica, decided to erect a new window in his place. This however was a mistake. Since then, it is said that the ghost of Anthony Daly haunts the house. He can be seen roaming the halls, clad in his mean breeches and white shirt, his ribbon man uniform. To this day, the story of Anthony Daly lives on in the memories of the local people. The story of injustice has proven to be a motivation for many more in the East Galway area that strived to be free of oppression and to fight for freedom. Greerian conflict continued in the Crawford area into the 20th century under the command of Tom Kenny, a member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood. The area where Daly and his associates rebelled against the gentry was a hotbed of war 100 years later. The Irish Republican Army were active in the area during the War of Independence and the burning of gentry houses was a tactic used as a deterrent support for the British or as a form of revison. It is said that local IRA captain Pat Connington would not permit the local battalion to burn St Clarence as the then owner had donated £5 to the local champagne collection, a generous sum at the time. In the 205 years since his hanging on the prominent spot of Stephen Hill, Anthony Daly's life, terminated by the power of the Land of the League, has outlived their ownership of the land and serves as a fine example to the brave men who fought for liberty.