Born Kathleen Mary Delany to journalist Alfred Delany and his wife, Kathleen Mary Kilgannon of 98 Marlboro Rd. in Dublin.[1][2] She was professionally known as Cathleen Delany.[2]
She was one of the principal players of the first decade of the Gate Theatre's existence. Considered a talented singer she began in local theatre with the Rathmines and Rathgar Musical Society. From there she auditioned for the Gate. She debuted on the Gate stage in The Agamemnon of Aeschylus in 1933.[3] Delany worked with Hilton Edwards and Micheál Mac Liammóir during their London season in 1934 and in 1936 she went with them on their first tour of Egypt. When they returned she began touring Ireland with Longford Productions.[3] She moved to the screen and performed in a wide variety of roles. Her last stage performance was in May, 1988 in the Gate in Brian Friel's adaptation of Fathers and Sons.[3]
In the 1970s, Delany also started to work for film and television. She played the elderly Aunt Julia in The Dead (1987), John Huston's adaption of the James Joyce short story. Her last role was in the television series Jake's Progress in 1995.
Delany married John O'Dea, and raised her niece Hazel Roost from infancy.[3] She died at age 89.
