Victor James Daley | |
|---|---|
 Victor Daley (at right) (c. 1880–1900) | |
| Born | Victor James William Patrick Daley (1858-09-05)5 September 1858 Navan,County Meath, Ireland |
| Died | 29 December 1905(1905-12-29) (aged 47) Sydney,New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation | Poet |
Victor James William Patrick Daley (5 September 1858 – 29 December 1905) was an Australian poet. Daley serves chiefly as an example of theCeltic Twilight in Australian verse. He also serves as a lyrical alternative to his contemporary bush balladists ofHenry Lawson,Banjo Paterson, andWill H. Ogilvie.[1]
Daley was born at theNavan,County Meath, Ireland,[note 1] and was educated at theChristian Brothers atDevonport in England. He arrived in Australia in 1878, and became a freelance journalist and writer in bothMelbourne andSydney. Whilst in Melbourne, he met and became a friend ofMarcus Clarke; later, in Sydney, he became acquainted withHenry Kendall. He is notable for becoming the first author in Australia who tried to earn a living from writing alone.
In Sydney in 1898, he founded thebohemianDawn and Dusk Club, and the later Supper Club, which had many notable members such as writerHenry Lawson. Together with fellow notable poetLouise Mack, he organised the farewell dinner to Scottish-Australian poet and bush balladeerWill H. Ogilvie (1869–1963) in 1901 at the Hotel Australia, Sydney.[2]Banjo Paterson andRoderic Quinn were also present at the send-off.
He used thepseudonymCreeve Roe (Irish forRed Branch, the area next to the Navan whereCú Chulainn trained as a Red Branch Knight), as well as his own name.
Daley died at his home inWaitara, Sydney oftuberculosis and was buried in the Roman Catholic section ofWaverley Cemetery.[3]
His work was not considered particularlyAustralian in nature, but quite lyrical,[2] with 'natural delicacy of expression, graceful imagery, and refinement of language'.[4] HisPoems (1908) and other collections were published posthumously. Daley's finest Australian work was considered to beA Sunset Fantasy.[5]
When he died, Scottish-Australian poet and bush balladeerWill H. Ogilvie (1869–1963) penned:[6][7]
A memoir of Daley byBertram Stevens was published inWine and Roses.
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