Michael (Mick) J. Daly, 96, of Plainville, husband of the late Nancy (Annie) (Kirrane) Daly, passed away peacefully on May 18 2016.

Born on December 27, 1919 in the village of Ballyshea in the parish of Kilchreest, Co. Galway, Ireland, to Bridget (Kelly) and Michael Daly, he attended Ballymana National School along with his eight siblings.

After he left school he worked on his father’s small farm. This was the era of the Economic War in Ireland and it was followed by The Emergency as the WWII period was known. Although employment prospects were poor in Ireland generally it was an era of self-sufficiency and food was plentiful in rural Ireland. Mick made his living by shooting pigeons and rabbits which were exported to England. He also worked with local farmers and cut turf which he sold. He participated in local sports’ meetings and won many competitions in weight throwing. He was also an avid dancer and card player as a young man.

Emigration to the U.S. was in abeyance during the war years and as Mick had no realistic prospects in Ireland he was sponsored by his uncle Martin Kelly to move to New Britain in 1948, a city he called home for 30 years before moving to Plainville.

Mick and Nancy married on April 14, 1956 in the old Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Hartford. They continued their favorite pastimes of dancing and card playing, especially the regular Saturday night setback games, until Nancy’s death in 1991.

They enjoyed their many trips to Ireland.

Mick was a manager at the A&P Supermarket in Bristol, followed by working as a machinist at Pratt & Whitney until his retirement in 1985.

Mick was a longtime communicant of St. Patrick Church, Farmington, and a Life Member of the Irish American Home Society, Glastonbury.

In addition to his loving wife, Mick was predeceased by his brothers, James (Ballyshea), Patrick and Tom (London), and by his sisters Celia Dervan (Loughrea), Bridie Killian (Loughrea), Maria Brennan (Derryhoyle, Craughwell) and his beloved sister Winnie who died at the age of 17. He is survived by his sister, Kathleen (Daly) Folan of Wisconsin; a host of extended family and friends in Ireland, England and the U.S.; and special lifelong friends, Jack and Peggy Egan of West Hartford and their children,  with whom Mick spent countless holidays and family celebrations.