Bishop Daniel Delany, the founder of the Patrician Brothers was born in Mountrath, Ireland in the year 1747. As he lost his father at an early stage, he was looked after by his maternal aunts. By then Ireland was improvised and lacked basic education facilities, so he was sent to France to study. He was brilliant in studies and gifted in writing. Daniel became a priest in the 1770’s. Soon he returned to Ireland and was appalled on seeing the utter misery of his countrymen. He used his sundays for exhorting the grownups and gradually gathered the children for prayer and general education. In 1784, he was consecrated as a bishop and soon plunged himself deeply into improving the life of his countrymen. To continue his vision for Ireland even after his death, he founded two religious congregations namely “The Brigidine Sisters” for women on 1st February, 1807 and “Patrician Brothers” on 2nd February 1808. Entrusting the flame he lit to his beloved sisters and brothers, he left for his heavenly abode on 9th July 1814. The Patrician Brothers, “The bearers of the flame” of Daniel Delany work today in Ireland, USA, Australia, Papua New Guniea, Kenya, India, Ghana, South Sudan and Dubai continuing the ministry that their Founder had started.
