Clog dancer from Blaydon, Co. Durham. (1911-11 May 1939).
Joseph Henry Daley (sometimes spelt Dailey – his brother Peter spelled the surname that way however published sources suggest Daley as being the format used by Joe.) was born in 1900, the son of Patrick Daley (1873-1928) and Mary Ann Daley (1869-1940). They were both born in Cleator Moor, Cumberland as was Joe.
Joe had learned to dance, with his brother Peter (b. 29 April 1913) from their father, Patrick Dailey (1873-1928) who had originally lived and danced in Cumberland. He in turn had learned from his father, also Patrick (b.1839 in Ireland), (Peter said he was a champion).
Joe had moved with his family to Tyneside at some stage prior to 1911 as by then they were living at 17 Robinson Street, Blaydon, Durham (the street no longer exists having been demolished to make way for the Balydon Shopping Centre).. It seems that Patrick had in fact moved to Durham shortly after Joe’s birth as he was living in Whickam, Durham as a boarder in 1901, his family however were not with him at that stage and remained in Cumberland living with Mary Ann’s parents. Patrick worked as a coal miner.
Joe Daley entered several competitions from the age of nine (no erarly ones have been traced and only one was mentioned by name, that at the Kings Hall Newcastle ). However he first entered the Northumberland and Durham Championships when these were held at Stanley, Co. Durham in 1935 when he won. He won again when the competition was held in Durham in 1936, but was beaten into 2nd place when the competition was held in Gateshead in 1937. (The date remembered by his brother and reported in his obituary appear to be a year out.) It was said that the latter was the only competition he had ever lost.
The IRT were told by Dickie Farrell’s son Wheaty Farrell that Joe was one of his father’s pupils, however in the light of the information from other interviewees this is perhaps unlikely.
Find out about the Northumberland and Durham Championships here
The Northumberland and Durham Clog Championships were revived in 1935. Joe Daley was the first winner.
