Exhibition space to remember ‘Copper King’

In order to honour the achievements of Marcus Daly and create a dedicated spot for tourists, Cllr Trevor Smith suggested a designated exhibition space in the County Museum.

Born just outside of Ballyjamesduff in 1841, Daly had emigrated to the US in 1855. After working as stevedore in New York, he eventually made his way to California where he had his first mining experience. Subsequently Marcus became known as one of the three “Copper Kings” of Butte, Montana and the fifth richest man of the US.

“We should offer people interested in researching his background a dedicated place, similar to the St Kilian’s project in Mullagh,” said Trevor Smith at the monthly Ballyjamesduff MD Meeting.

Together with TP O’Reilly he had visited Montana, commemorating the 150-year-old connection to Cavan.

"It was a fantastic trip special experience visiting places like Butte and Virginia City, where so many Irish, including those with roots in Cavan, made their mark,” reflected Cllr TP O’Reilly, saying it was a “worthwhile motion to support”.

A spokesperson of the museum said, having understood the significance of Marcus Daly, they would take the request on board, leaving it to the new curator to find an adequate spot.