Wednesday, February 08, 2006
THE death has occurred of Delia McNeela-Tully of Cloonlumney and Chicago at the age of 105 years. She was born on the 25th January 1901, one of 13 children. At the age of 21 she left Ireland for America. In 1927 she married Michael Tully and proceeded to raise eight children.
Delia enjoyed Irish dancing and her daughter Sheila Drioscall shared her mother’s love for it. In the basement of her home Delia helped Sheila launch what would become the Sheila Tully Academy of Irish Dance. With fifteen locations in the north and west suburbs of Chicago the school trained students who have performed at The White House, Walt Disney World, Soldier Field and the United Centre.
In 1983 Delia’s husband died and in 1994 her son Jack died at the age of 60 years. At the age of 100 she visited Ireland and danced a jig at a birthday celebration. She continued dancing until 2004 where at a wedding she danced her last waltz.
The science classroom in Scoil Muire agus Padraig was funded by her son Thomas Tully and dedicated to Delia.
Delia is survived in Ireland by her sister Kate Howley, Ballintemple, Swinford, a large number of nieces and nephews many of whom reside in the Swinford area. In Chicago she is survived by six daughters, one son, thirty-two grandchildren and fifty-three great-grandchildren.
U.S. Social Security Death Index for Delia M Tully
First Name: Delia
Middle Name: M
Last Name: Tully
Name Suffix:
Birth Date: 25 January 1901
Social Security Number: 359-18-2697
Place of Issuance: Illinois
Last Residence: Cook, Illinois
Zip Code of Last Residence: 60634
Death Date: 30 January 2006
Estimated Age at Death: 105
Ireland's Oldest People 