Deasy

The Deasy family was mainly concentrated in Waterford and West Cork at the time that James Joyce wrote Ulysses. However, the name was already known as the college friend and political ally of Daniel O'Connell, Rickard Deasy, instituted the Deasy Land Act, which was intended to reform tenants' rights. Also Captain Timothy Deasy was one of the prisoners rescued from a prison van in Manchester by Fenians in a famous incident in 1867.
Latter day members of the clan include Austin Deasy, who became minister for agriculture from 1982 - 1987.