Daly, Eltin, 1918-2002, Capuchin priest

Eugene Daly was born in Bantry in County Cork on 7 March 1918. He joined the Capuchin Franciscans in October 1939 and took Eltin as his religious name. He completed his BA and MA in University College Cork and was ordained to the priesthood in Ard Mhuire Capuchin Friary in County Donegal by Bishop William MacNeely on 27 May 1948. He obtained a Higher Diploma in Education at London University in 1949 and shortly afterwards set out for the mission in Northern Rhodesia (later Zambia). He took charge of the Teacher Training College in Lukulu for seven years. In 1956 he moved the western outpost at Sihole for a further six years (until 1962), where he advanced his mastery of the local Lozi language. For four years (1962-6) he was at Maramba near Livingstone. During this time he compiled an original translation of the liturgical texts into Lozi following the adoption of the vernacular (after the Second Vatican Council). And all the while he maintained a keen interest in catechetical matters. In 1966 Fr. Eltin left Africa and made his way to Oxford in England. He was appointed to run a chaplaincy service to Irish emigrants and travellers residing in Britain. He worked out of a house on Leopold Street in Oxford while involved in his ministry to Irish travellers and emigrants. He died in London on 12 November 2002 and was buried in Kensal Green Cemetery in North Kensington in the British capital.

Baptismal name: Eugene Daly
Religious name: Fr. Eltin Daly OFM Cap.
Date of birth: 7 Mar. 1918
Place of birth: Bantry, County Cork
Name of father: Daniel Daly (labourer, Scartbawn, Bantry, County Cork)
Name of mother: Mary Daly (née Mahony)
Date of Parents’ Marriage: 24 Feb. 1903
Date of reception into the Capuchin Order: 3 Oct. 1939
Date of first profession: 4 Oct. 1940
Date of final profession: 4 Oct. 1943
Date of ordination (as priest): 27 May 1948
Educational attainments: BA (1st class hons.), 1943; MA (2nd class hons.), 1944; Higher Diploma in Education (London), 1949.
Missionary details: Travelled to Victoria Falls Mission, Zambia, on 22 August 1949. Returned to Ireland in 1966; Chaplain to Irish emigrants in England from 1966; National Director, Mission to the Travelling People, United Kingdom
Date of death: 12 Nov. 2002
Place of death: London (but resided in Oxford)
Place of burial: Kensal Green Cemetery, North Kensington, London