Conference tallis::celt

    >Has anybody heard of the name Darby.  This is a first name not a
    >surname.  
    
    I think Darby Field is credited with being the first non-native to
    climb Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.
    

     The most infamous Darby to come out of Ireland was of course "Darby
    O'Gill and the Little people". A 60's film with Barry Fitzgerald acting
    the part of Darby. The films portayal of Ireland and its Leprechauchans 
    makes me cringe.  Just as Dallas makes every decent American cringe.  
      First names and surnames tend to get swopped over after time, Julie. The
    surname Darby is almost exlusively found in the Counties of Meath and Laois.
    As a surname Darby represents a tiny percentage of a percent of the
    population of Southern Ireland.  Less than a hundred Darbys in the
    telephone directories if you wanted to contact them.
     The bad news for you.  The name Darby is probably not Celtic in origin, 
    before 1800 that is. It likely originated in England and came to Ireland 
    with English settlers.  But then my fathers surname is Butler which
    also came from England. And my mothers surname is Devereux which came from
    France. As the Northerners would say, its only a question of where do
    you start the clock from !. 
     Regards, Peter, Digital, Galway, Ireland.
    

    Julia,
    I looked through the telphone directories. Lots of Quinns but no DARBY
    Quinn. I have never heard Darby used as a forename here in Ireland. The
    most likely scenario I suggest is that your g.g.grandfather worked the
    land of an English landlord called Darby. Somehow he got nickname Darby 
    Quinn then and it stuck.  So...you're probably looking for the Quinns
    from County Meath or County Laois who emigrated. Quinn is a common
    Gaelic surname in Ireland.  Not sure where you woudl go from here.  Peter.
     

    
    <<The films portayal of Ireland and its Leprechauchans 
    <<makes me cringe.  Just as Dallas makes every decent American cringe.  
    
    As does the statement that there is no difference between Americans and
    Canadians, as stated by some European tourists after visiting North
    America.  ;*) ;*)
    
    
    <<But then my fathers surname is Butler which
    <<also came from England.
    
    
    Is Butler Norman-English, as I believe it is a corruption of the
    French "Boutilier"?
    
    Pat

    You certainly ARE an avid notes reader, Pat.  My point in this note,
    though, you may have missed. Television programs often convey a wrong 
    impression of a country and its people.  Does "Beachcomers" portray 
    the life of the average Canadian ?.  "The Quiet Man" and "Darby O'Gill"
    certainly don't and never did portray the life of the average Irish person. 
    
    "Butler" is indeed Norman_English, you are correct.  The original French 
    name was "De Boutellier".  In Irish the name Butler is translated as 
    "De Buitleir".  I was told growing up that the original meaning of 
    "De Boutellier" was one who minded the "Bottle"s of the house.   
    
    Peter "who really DID enjoy his recent honeymoon".
    

    Its a good job the name didn't evolve to Bottler,isn't it Peter??
    BTW Bottler is a comic,humourously tough inner city school-boy
    character invented by Irish comedian Brendan Grace.
    A lot of visitors to Ireland may have seen him on their vacations as he
    does a lot of cabaret work.
    

    I have a friend who once had an Irish setter named Darby......

    Checked out a standard reference book over the weekend.
    	"Surnames of Ireland", by McLysaght.
    
    Darby as a forename is stated to be an unusual Anglicization of the common
    Irish forename Diarmuid. The normal Anglicization of Diarmuid is Dermott.
       
    The surname Darby originates from an English family that settled
    in County Laois in the sixteenth century.
    

    >Darby as a forename is stated to be an unusual Anglicization of the common
    >Irish forename Diarmuid. The normal Anglicization of Diarmuid is Dermott.
    
    Another less known Anglicization of Diarmuid is Gerry, especially
    around the Cork area.
    
    Looking up "darby" also reveals the following meanings:
    	1) handcuffs
    	2) plasterer's float (for smoothing out plaster)
    	3) Plymouth Brethren (a member of a particular religious
           sect from Plymouth England - named after a John Darby)
                                                                 

    Just as a side note...
    
    "Darby O'Gill and the Little People" most likely wasn't meant to
    portray everyday Ireland or Irish people anymore than "The Wonderful
    World of the Brothers Grimm" portrayed everyday German life, or "Jason
    and the Argonauts" portrayed Greek life, or "The Red Shoes" portrayed
    Scandanavian life and people.  Apart from the fact that these films
    are contemporary to each other (in my recollection - having seen them
    all at about the same time in my life) - they are predominently
    concerned with the mythology of a people or race.  As such, they were,
    and are still, excellent films.  My husband vividly recollects having
    to walk home, in the dark, after seeing "Darby O'Gill" in the Carrick
    cinema.  It was, as he recalls it, a terrifying experience.  I think
    that speaks to the credibility of the film as a vehicle for conveying
    the magic and fantasy that is so much a part of Irish folklore and
    mythology.
    
    Rox
    
    P.S.:  This film still hasn't lost its magic -- my children were
    totally absorbed with this movie when we rented it a few years ago.

    
    	I remember seeing the film way back in the 60's too....it was
    all fairly light-hearted stuff, Im sure not meant to be taken as
    a true representation of Irish life. For kids,(of all ages), I'd 
    say its well worth a watch.
    
    Maybe my memory is playing tricks with me, but I thought it was
    Jimmy O'Dea who played the role of Darby.
    
    Sean

    
        I vaguely remember this film.  I will have to rent it and
    check it out for myself.  
    
    Thanks for all the info Peter. 
    
    Julia

    
     Yeah, howlin' banshees were fun.  Good cinematography for its time.
    
     Produced by Walt Disney Studios, I believe.  
    
     Sean Connery played a role.