الأصل والتاريخ

Anglicisation of the Irish Gaelic 'O Dalaigh', meaning 'descendant of Dalach', where 'Dalach' derives from 'dal' meaning 'assembly' or 'gathering', with connotations of one who presides over or participates in assemblies. The O'Dalys were the hereditary poets and chroniclers of several Gaelic kingdoms and are regarded as one of the most distinguished bardic families in Irish history, producing generations of poets from the twelfth to the seventeenth century. Their tradition of learned verse made the Daly name synonymous with Irish literary culture for centuries.