Tributes to an inspirational Castlebar woman who has died in Dublin

Tributes have been paid to Sheila (Síle) Daly, Churchtown, Dublin, and formerly of Spencer Street, Castlebar, whose death has taken place.

She died last Monday in the exceptional care of the HASU Unit at St James’s Hospital, following dedicated support from the team at Orwell Lodge Nursing Home.

Sheila is remembered lovingly by her nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and a wide circle of devoted and loyal friends, to whom deepest sympathy is tendered.

The bereaved include the Mongey and Garavan families, Castlebar, and the Daly family, Mulranny, the Layng family, formerly of Swinford, and Cahalane family, Dublin.

The deceased was the last surviving grand-daughter of James Daly, who served as editor and proprietor of The Connaught Telegraph from 1879 to 1892, during which he utilised the power of the printed word to campaign against absentee landlords, rack rants and evictions.

Along with Michael Davitt, James Daly founded the Land League on August 15, 1879, in the Imperial Hotel, Castlebar.

When The Connaught Telegraph moved in 2015 from Cavendish Lane to its current location at 1 Main Street, Castlebar, the new building was named James Daly House in his honour at the opening ceremony.

Sheila was proud to attend the occasion and endeared herself to everybody with her affable and refined nature.

Many warm tributes have been paid to her on the condolences page of the death notices website, RIP.ie.

"An inspirational character we are so lucky to have known," one tribute stated.

"Sheila led a rich and wonderful life, vividly remembered by all who met her. A mark of a life well lived is the number of friends and family who cherished her," another said.

A further tribute outlined: "She was an independent and thoroughly modern woman and a gifted and inspirational English teacher who instilled in me a lifelong love of novels. A long life well lived. Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann."

Sheila was predeceased by her brother Seamus Daly and sisters Evelyn Cahalane, Nollie Mongey and Dympna Layng.

In keeping with Sheila's generous spirit, she donated her body to the anatomy department at Trinity College, Dublin.

There will be a celebration of her long and wonderful life at a later date.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.