By: Denise Foley

Danny Browne

Although Bill Lunney was from County Tyrone and Danny Browne from Donegal, they attended the same Catholic church in Danny’s hometown of Meenreagh. They weren’t friends. Just two boys with a nodding acquaintance once a week, on Sunday.

"The first time I really met him, I had borrowed my father’s bike to go to a dance,” says Lunney. “When I came out, I had a flat tire. I didn’t know what I was going to do. I was quite a ways from home, maybe eight miles. Well, Danny came by and took me to his house. He helped me repair the tube and he made me some tea and gave me some scone.”

And that, says Lunney, was the way Danny Browne was. “He was a great guy, believe me,” he says. “He would do anything for anybody, friend, stranger ... anybody who needed anything.”

On Saturday, at its annual benefit dinner-dance, the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 80 will recognize the generosity and dedication of Daniel Browne, Sr., by naming the division after the man who is, after all, responsible for keeping the group alive. Browne died last May.  “If it weren’t for Danny, the division wouldn’t even be there now,” says Lunney, who is also a member of longstanding. “He got most of the members to join.”

Lunney lost track of Browne after the bike incident. “I think he left to find work,” says Lunney, who himself went to Belfast, then to London, and finally to Philadelphia in the mid-1950s.  He never expected to see Danny Browne again—but he did. “When I came out here, I was working at Acme Markets,” says Lunney. “One day the boss comes down and there’s this guy come down with him and he looks like Danny Browne. The boss knew I was from Ireland and this new guy was from Ireland and he wanted to introduce us. And it was Danny Browne. We were very good friends the rest of our lives.”

So good that Danny and his wife, Philomena, asked Bill and Pat Lunney to be godparents to their son, Danny Browne, Jr., and the Browne children called Lunney and his wife Uncle Bill and Aunt Pat. Lunney and Browne even attended Dobbins Technical School together, Lunney to become an electrician and Browne to become a plumber.

Bill Lunney will be at the ceremony Saturday to honor his friend, Danny Browne. “Danny was a very good, very generous person.” Lunney says. “He deserves every honor he gets.”

Read a tribute to Danny Browne written by his daughter, Annette Browne Ward and a poem written about him by Gerardette Devlin.

The Smiling Irish Eyes of Daniel J. Browne, Sr.

By Annette Browne Ward

On May 2, 2006 the twinkling disappeared from the smiling Irish eyes belonging to Danny Browne. Perhaps Danny greeted you at the Commodore Barry Club (a.k.a. The Irish Center) as you came to watch a Gaelic Football Game, attend a Ball, or one of the many fund-raisers he was doorman for. Maybe you were among the many friends and family he welcomed into his home.

Danny was born on January 1, 1926 in Meenreagh, "The Cross," Killygordon, County Donegal, Ireland. A welcome New Year’s gift, he was the sixth child born to Michael and Elizabeth Browne (nee Boyle). Danny spent his younger years growing up on the family farm in Meenreagh and going to school. He enjoyed playing Gaelic Football and catching fish in the River Finn. As a young man, Danny moved to Belfast, Ireland to work. There he met his wife, Philomena Monaghan.

Danny married Philomena in September 1953 in Nottingham, England. They enjoyed a marriage of fifty-two plus years. They moved back to Ireland, but ultimately decided to move to America and settle in the Philadelphia area. Danny and Phil joined St. Lawrence Parish where they raised their family of seven children. Whenever Danny was with his seventeen grandchildren, his Irish eyes gleamed; Pop Pop was always ready with a funny poem, a little limerick, a big fish tale, or a gigantic hug.

Danny was a man of faith and was a member of the Colombian Fathers Fund Raising Group, supporting the poor across the world during the 60’s and 70’s. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, Trinity Council, in Upper Darby, assisting the church in their mission. He was an active member of St. Laurence for forty-seven years supporting CYO Sports, the Home and School Association and many fund-raisers.

Danny worked alongside many friends from Ireland for thirteen years at the Acme Markets’ Warehouse. While working with Acme Markets, Danny attended Dobbins Technical School. After graduating from Dobbins, Danny became a Master Plumber, joining Plumbers Local 690. Danny helped build and maintain many of the buildings and commercial properties in the Philadelphia region. His most memorable career contribution came when he went to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in 1978 renovating a palace with Daniel J. Keating, of Villanova. Danny worked with the Plumbers Local 690 until his retirement in 1991.

Danny had a zest for life. He enjoyed bowling, dancing, fishing, golf, hunting and story telling. His team members on the Donegal Association Bowling League could not miss the competitive twinkle in his eye as he scored a strike against them. If you watched Danny and Phil dance at the Irish Center you could see the "morn in spring" in their step. When his children were younger, he brought them to the Irish Center for the Friday Night ceilis hosted by the newly formed Philadelphia Ceili Group; Danny loved showing his girls the proper way to do "sevens". His fishing and hunting buddies of the Mount Vernon Rod and Gun Club knew his Irish laughter well and were never sure if the brightness in his eyes meant he was preparing to pull a prank or tell a tall tale. The dusty golf clubs that hung in the garage as he raised his family were finally cleaned in retirement. He would play golf any chance he had with his family and friends. Yes, Danny’s smiling Irish eyes seemed to be everywhere.

He joined the Ancient Order of Hiberians in Philadelphia shortly after he immigrated. The AOH is the nation’s oldest and largest Catholic Lay organization and the only nation-wide Irish American fraternal group. He joined Division #80 of the AOH. Unfortunately Division #80’s membership dwindled as its few members passed away. However, Danny kept the membership going, recruiting several new members. Thanks to Danny Browne, Division #80 is a rekindled division. Danny was instrumental in having a monument honoring recipients of the Medal of Honor, not accredited to a State, placed in The Medal of Honor Grove at the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge; this Monument was funded and dedicated by the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America. Division #80 has honored Danny by renaming their division to "Danny Browne AOH Division #80."

Danny’s eyes twinkled bright as can be, as he shared his great passion for his home country of Ireland throughout the Irish community of Philadelphia. You could find Danny at many functions throughout the Philadelphia area. He supported the efforts of Irish Northern Aid by organizing many benefits to raise funds for the oppressed in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. He supported the McDade School of Irish Step Dancing, booking and shuttling dancers to their performances. He provided his services in the recent renovation of the Commodore Barry Club in Germantown. He was a past Vice President of the Donegal Association, and an active member in both the Donegal Association and Tyrone Society; helping to promote Irish Culture and organize social events to support the Irish Community. He was a member of the Philadelphia Saint Patrick’s Day Observance Committee. He sat on the Board of Directors of the Delaware Valley Irish Hall of Fame. Over the years, Danny and Philomena hosted Footballers, Musicians and Politicians from Ireland Danny gave passionately and tirelessly in supporting and promoting his love for Ireland and the Irish Community, and his smiling Irish Eyes were always a twinkle as he did so.

Yes, if you knew Danny, you knew he had a great love for Ireland, love for family, and love for friends; and he did his best never to let any of them down. When you echo the words of "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", know that when you hear the angels sing…Danny will be among them, but he’ll be singing "Oh Danny Boy", just for the devil in him!

"Danny's Gone Home"

A man who I had the pleasure to know.

I was so sorry to hear had passed; now Danny's gone home.

One might think he's gone back to the Emerald Isle.

No, Danny's finally at peace blessed with God’s loving smile.

My advice to you all is not to grieve that Danny's not around.

I am sure he is in Heaven with God gazing down.

Push away the sad times.

Remember only the glad times; so his spirit can truly rest.

I am sure down deep in Danny's heart he wanted his family to have only the best.

So now and then when some might want to shed a tear.

Because they are grieving Danny Browne is no longer near.

Just try and imagine a beautiful, pleasant place.

Danny's gone home now living eternity in God's heavenly grace.

—Gerardette Devlin