“He will be sorely missed by people all over the world.” That’s the view of Clare first citizen Councillor P J Ryan when asked to sum up the legacy left by an East Clare self-made millionaire, Daniel (Danny) Moloney (75).
The former Clareman of the Year set up a thriving international furniture removal business in New York and later got involved in warehousing.
He will always be remembered for helping hundreds of Clare people to get work and find their feet during difficult times in the United States of America. Despite becoming a very wealthy businessman, he never forgot his Clare roots.
The chief executive of Liffey Van Lines, died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his ever-present, loving wife of 47 years, Rose and his son , Danny Junior on Monday of last week.
Born on January 6, 1947 in Broadford, County Clare, he was the son of the late Edward and Annie Moloney.
Councillor Ryan said Danny was a great ambassador for Clare and always did his utmost to help people from the Banner county to find a job when they first arrived to the USA.
Blessed with a great work ethic, Danny often worked three jobs while he was building up his very successful furniture removal business, Councillor Ryan recalled.
The Sixmilebridge-based councillor said Danny entertained a delegation from Clare County Council when they visited New York for Patrick’s Day celebrations on an annual basis for about 20 years pre-Covid.
Councillors and council officials would gather in Bobby Van’s steakhouse on Park Avenue, Danny’s regular haunt for entertaining his Irish guests.
He also sponsored and entertained the Tulla Pipe Band when they visited New York.
“Danny was a great Clare ambassador and friend of everyone from Clare. Anyone young person who emigrated to the USA, Danny would give them a job or helped them to get work. They may have been asked to get up for work at 4am in the morning, which was a rude awakening, but gave them a great groundings for working life.”
“Danny built up a multi-million dollar business in New York. He was a self-made millionaire. He was extremely generous with his wealth to Clare sporting and community organisations.”
Councillor Ryan estimated Danny would have contributed in excess of €1 million to sporting and community organisations over the last 20 years.
Glowing tributes were paid to Danny’s contribution to Clare charitable causes at a Clare County Council meeting on Monday.
The East Clare man was also a very generous benefactor to Clare GAA, donating thousands of Euro over the last 30 years. He entertained the 1995 Clare All-Ireland winning panel when they visited New York.
The former Clareman of the Year was also a great supporters of the Clareman’s Association in New York and several other organisations supporting Irish exiles. Linda Gallagher, his representative in Clare, said his funeral would be attended by millionaires and paupers.
Broadford community activist, P J Mason recalled Donal as he is known in the village never forgot his roots.
This was illustrated by the regular financial donations to fundraising ventures for a new roof on the community hall, Broadford Church Restoration Fund and the GAA field.
“Donal never forget his roots. He was a very generous benefactor to the GAA club and the local community.”
“Donal left Ireland at a young age in the late sixties and had very little when he first arrived in the United States of America.
“However, he worked extremely hard to build up- an international furniture removal business. He was great friends with the late Brendan Grace and other entertainers such as Brendan Shine and Brendan Bowyer and used to look after the showbands when they played in New York.
“He was one of those phenomenal people that come along once in a lifetime and was a force of nature.”
Danny owned Big Apple Mini Storage on East 124th Street, another Big Apple on the West Side, and other buildings in the Bronx, Mount Vernon and Mahopac.
Liffey’s block-long headquarters on East 121st Street is located between Second and Third Avenues in Manhattan.
Danny is survived by his sisters Kay ( Nick) Gleason, Mary (Tom) Whyte, his brothers Michael (Sheila) Moloney and Patrick (Bridie, RIP) Moloney and pre-deceased by his brothers Eamon and Frank (Helen) Moloney.
Danny is also survived by a loving, extended family, numerous nieces and nephews and his Liffey Van Lines team.
Relatives and friends are invited to Danny’s viewing on Friday , January 14th from 3-8pm at Frank E Campbell – The Funeral Chapel, New York City, New York.
Funeral mass was held on Saturday, January 15, at 10am at Saint Jean Baptiste Catholic Church, 184 East 76th Street, NYC, with burial at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Milford Hospice, Castletroy, Limerick, or The Bronx Community Foundation for the recent Tremont fire victims.
By Dan Danaher