The Story of Eugene Patrick Daly: The Titanic's Irish Bagpiper
The Story of Eugene Patrick Daly: The Titanic's Irish Bagpiper
The sinking of the RMS Titanic is a story of both tragedy and bravery. Among those who experienced this disaster was Eugene Patrick Daly, a third-class passenger from Athlone, County Westmeath, Ireland. His story is especially interesting for those who love Irish bagpipes.
Black & white image of Eugene Daly holding his bagpipes. The blowpipe can be seen under his baby finger, the chanter can be seen resting above the drones and he’s also wearing a kilt pin. There’s 2 white spots just under his knees, which could either be his legs showing beneath the kilt, or a pair of garters that are used to hold up his stockings.
Early Life in Ireland
Eugene Patrick Daly was born on January 23, 1883, in Lisclough, Westmeath, Ireland. He was the oldest child in a big family. When Eugene was young, his father, a police officer, was killed during a riot in Belfast. This event forced Eugene to grow up quickly. At just twelve years old, he had to work in a woollen mill to help support his family. Eugene began learning the bagpipes in his teenage years with the Clann Uisnigh pipe band in Athlone.
Titanic Bagpiper Eugene Daly is pictured here with Píobairí Cloinne Uisnigh - Áth Luain.
Journey on the Titanic
In 1912, Eugene decided to move to the United States for a better life. He boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) on April 11, 1912, with ticket number 382651, which cost £7, 15s. Eugene was known for his musical talent and often played his Irish bagpipes, also known as Irish Warpipes, for other third-class passengers. His music was enjoyed by many, even those in the upper class.
The image above clearly shows Eugene Daly (foreground of the image - left) holding his bagpipes as he boards the titanic. The bass drone is resting against him with the top of the bass drone just beneath his right ear.
The Night of the Disaster
Eugene was woken by the collision with the iceberg, which nearly threw him out of his bed. Realizing the danger, he quickly got dressed and went up to the Boat Deck. As the situation worsened, he saw two men trying to jump into a lifeboat and an officer shooting them before turning the gun on himself. Shocked by what he saw, Eugene decided to jump overboard. He managed to stay afloat and was later rescued by Collapsible Lifeboat B.
Life After the Titanic
After surviving the Titanic disaster, Eugene settled in New York. He competed in a Gaelic Feis bagpipe competition in Celtic Park but didn't win. He later asked the White Star Line for $50 compensation for his lost bagpipes.
Eugene married a woman named Lillian, and they had a daughter named Marian Joyce. He eventually settled in the Bronx in the 1960s. Eugene lived to be 82 years old, passing away on October 30, 1965.
Eugene Daly's life is a testament to resilience and the human spirit. His story, especially his bagpipe playing on the Titanic, remains a unique and memorable part of Irish Bagpiping.
Image of Eugene Daly with his wife and
An accurate replica of Eugene Daly’s boat fair ticket for the Titanic.
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