Eugene Daly

Eugene Daly lived in Athlone for most of his life. He had grown tired of the town and his job in the Athlone Woolen Mills. At the time he was a young man of 29 and was curious about the rest of the world. In 1912 he decided to go to New York to find work.

Eugene had a great love of music and was popular in the music circle in Athlone. He played in the "Clann Uiseach" pipe band. In the band he played the "Uileann" (elbow) pipes. Eugene purchased his ticket for Titanic in Butlers,in the Square in Athlone, for nine pounds. As the Titanic set sail from Cobh Eugene Daly is said to have stood on the Third class deck and played "Erin's Lament" on his pipes, his only possession on Titanic. He later claimed fifty pounds for their loss. This estimate was much more than they were worth.

During the voyage Eugene Daly was to take care of Maggie Daly and Bertha Mulvihill. On the night of the collision he rushed to get the two women and alert them of the danger. He helped the two women to lifeboat No.15. As he tried to get onto the boat he was held back at gun point. The officer stated that no men were to get on the boat or else they would be shot on the spot. Eugene witnessed the officer shoot two men. Later he saw the same officer dead on deck.... he had shot himself. Eugene then jumped of the ship and into the water just before the ship sank. He later described how cold the water was and how he expected not to survive the icy water.

He then found a lifeboat which had capsized. With the help of some other survivors and the wave made by the Titanic's bow crashing into the water they righted the lifeboat. He is quoted to have said his sufferings were intense in the life boat until the Carpathia came and began to pick up survivors at around 4:00 am.

Eugene Daly reached New York with nothing having lost his pipes, baggage and 98 pounds he had saved. In New York he was branded by the media as the piper who played as the ship sank. Mr Daly stayed in America for 10 years before returning to Athlone, in 1922 with his wife Lillian. He had a daughter Marion who emigrated to America.

Mr. Daly remained casual about the incident and only talked about it when questioned.... although he did give his account to the 1958 film makers of "A night to remember". In the 60’s he returned to America to live with his daughter after his wife had died.

That was to be his last crossing of the Atlantic as he died in America, 50 years after that tragic night, on the 31st of October 1965. He is buried at an unmarked grave at St Raymonds Cemetery in the Bronx. In 1999 Eugene's account of his survival was auctioned off for $3,500 at Christie's in Manhattan.

Eugene Daly | Margaret Daly | Delia Henry | Bertha Mulvihill | Margaret Rice