Roots of the Rising: The Family Histories of Ned Daly & Con Colbert

As part of Ireland 2016 Centenary Year, Limerick Genealogy is planning exhibitions on the family histories of Ned Daly and Con Colbert, the two Limerick born men executed for their involvement in the Easter Rising.

Ned Daly was the youngest of the fifteen rebel leaders executed in May 1916, shot at Kilmainham Gaol on the 4th May 1916. He was Commandant of the 1st Battalion of the Irish Volunteers responsible for the Four Courts area.

Ned Daly in uniform (Courtesy of Helen Litton on behalf of descendants of the Daly family)

John Edward Daly, known as Edward or Ned, was born on Frederick Street in Limerick City on 25th February 1891 to parents Edward Daly and Catherine O’Mara and he was part of a prominent nationalist family. Ned’s uncle was the influential veteran Fenian John Daly and his sister Kathleen Daly married Thomas Clarke, one of the signatories of the 1916 Proclamation. A number of Ned’s sisters were involved in Cumman na mBan and also played their part in the Rising.

The Daly Family in 1894 Standing L to R: Catherine Daly née O’Mara, James Daly, Ellen (Lollie) Daly, Jim Jones, Eileen Daly and Madge Daly Seated L to R: Nora Daly, Edward Daly, Agnes Daly, Margaret Daly née Hayes, Kathleen Daly and Laura Daly On floor L to R: Carrie Daly and Annie Daly. Courtesy of Helen Litton on behalf of the descendants of the Daly family.

Con Colbert was Captain of F Company, 4th Battalion of the Irish Volunteers, commanding Watkin’s Brewery and later Marrowbow Lane Jameson’s distillery, for which he was executed on the 8th May
1916.

Con Colbert

Cornelius Colbert was one of thirteen children born to Michael Colbert and Ann McDermot, in October 1888, in the parish of Mahoonagh and Castlemahon, County Limerick. The family moved to Athea around 1891 but by 1911 Cornelius was living with siblings in Dublin City.

Con Colbert in the 1911 Census living with his sisters at No. 7 Clifton Terrace, Ranelagh, Dublin City. Courtesy – National Archives of Ireland

Limerick Genealogy is researching the family histories of Edward Daly and Con Colbert to culminate in exhibitions on the two families. There will be an online aspect to the exhibitions allowing for extensive family trees and details on each family member illustrated with original source material, documents and photographs. The launches of these exhibitions, aimed for next February and March, will be an opportunity for Daly and Colbert family gatherings, allowing members from Limerick, Ireland and around the world, to reunite or indeed meet for the first time.

Limerick Genealogy would welcome contact from anyone descending from the extended Daly and Colbert families and indeed from any persons with memories, memorabilia or photographs relating to the families.

In collaboration with the families, Limerick Genealogy sees this as an opportunity to preserve the memory of the Daly and Colbert families and
commemorate the sacrifices of their sons Ned Daly and Con Colbert.
For further information, please contact Catriona Crowe or Aoife Ryan at:
Limerick Genealogy, Lissanalta House, Dooradoyle, Limerick, Ireland.
Phone: +353 (0) 61 496542
Website: http://www.limerickgenealogy.com
Email: research@limerickgenealogy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LimerickGenealogy
Twitter: @LimkGenealogy