Nicola Daly (born 3 April 1988), also referred to as Nicci Daly or Nikki Daly, is an
Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the
2018 Women's Hockey World Cup
The 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup was the 14th edition of the Women's Hockey World Cup, a field hockey tournament. It was held from 21 July to 5 August 2018 at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London, England.
Defending champions t ...
final. In 2010 Daly was a member of the
Loreto team that won the
Irish Senior Cup. Daly has also played senior
ladies' Gaelic football
Ladies' Gaelic football ( ga, Peil Ghaelach na mBan) is a women's team sport. It is the women's equivalent of Gaelic football. Ladies' football is organised by the Ladies' Gaelic Football Association. Two teams of 15 players kick or hand-pass a ...
for . Since 2016 Daly has worked in
motorsport as a data engineer for
Juncos Racing
Juncos Hollinger Racing, formerly Juncos Racing, is an Argentine-American racing team competing in the NTT IndyCar Series, Indy Lights and Indy Pro 2000 Championship series in the Road to Indy ladder for IndyCar. Owned by Ricardo Juncos, who for ...
.
Early years, family and education
Daly is the daughter of Vivion and Carmel Daly. She has three siblings. Vivion Daly was a former
Formula Ford
Formula Ford, also known as F1600 and Formula F, is an entry-level class of single seater, open-wheel formula racing. The various championships held across the world form an important step for many prospective Formula One drivers. Formula For ...
racing driver. She is also the niece of
Derek Daly
Derek Patrick Daly (born 11 March 1953) is an Irish former racing driver. He won the 1977 British Formula 3 Championship, and competed as a professional racing driver for 17 years participating in 64 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix ...
, the former
Formula One
Formula One (also known as Formula 1 or F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The World Drivers' Championship, ...
driver and a first cousin of
Conor Daly
Conor J. Daly (born December 15, 1991) is an American professional racing driver who competes in the NTT IndyCar Series, driving the No. 20 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 50 Chevrolet Ca ...
, the
IndyCar driver. In addition to playing
Gaelic football and
field hockey
Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ...
, Daly spent many weekends during her youth at
Mondello Park
Mondello Park is Ireland's only international motorsport venue and is located in Caragh, County Kildare off the R409 regional road, approximately from Dublin city centre.
History
The Mondello Park short circuit was designed on farmland ne ...
watching her father compete.
Between 2000 and 2006, Daly attended
The High School, Dublin
The High School is a 12–18 mixed, Church of Ireland, independent secondary school in Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland.
It was established in 1870 at Harcourt Street before moving to Rathgar in 1971 and amalgamated with The Diocesan School for Girl ...
where her fellow students included
Alison Meeke
Alison Meeke (born 7 June 1991), also referred to as Ali Meeke, is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Meeke has also won Irish Senior Cup ...
.
Between 2006 and 2011 she attended the
Institute of Technology, Tallaght
The Institute of Technology Tallaght (also known as ITT or IT Tallaght) ( Irish: ''Institiúid Teicneolaíochta, Tamhlacht)'' was a third-level institution in Tallaght, the largest suburb of Dublin, Ireland. Established in 1992, IT Tallaght ...
on a sports scholarship and gained an honours degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Between 2012 and 2013 she attended the School of Applied Sciences at
Cranfield University where she gained an
MSc in Motorsport Engineering and Management.
Gaelic football
Ballyboden Wanderers
Daly played
Gaelic football for
Ballyboden Wanderers GAA
Wanderers (Irish: ''Fánaithe Bhaile Baodáin'') are a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Ballyboden, Dublin, Ireland.
Background
Ballyboden Wanderers G.A.A. Club was founded in 1910. They played their first match against Clanna Gael ...
at club level.
Together with
Alison Meeke
Alison Meeke (born 7 June 1991), also referred to as Ali Meeke, is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Meeke has also won Irish Senior Cup ...
, she was a member of the Wanderers team that won the 2008 Dublin Ladies Junior E Football Championship.
Dublin
Daly represented
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
at under-14 level. Her team mates included
Lyndsey Davey
Lyndsey Davey is a senior Dublin ladies' footballer. She was a member of the Dublin teams that won the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship in 2010, 2017, 2018 and 2019. She captained Dublin in 2015. She was also a member of the Du ...
.
Daly made her debut for the
Dublin senior ladies' football team
The Dublin county ladies' football team represents Dublin GAA in ladies' Gaelic football. The team competes in inter-county competitions such as the All-Ireland Senior Ladies' Football Championship, the Leinster Senior Ladies' Football Champion ...
in 2009. She was subsequently named as a Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football All-Star for 2009.
Daly eventually decided to concentrate on playing
field hockey
Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ...
after being selected to play for
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
.
Field hockey
High School, Dublin
Between 2000 and 2006, Daly played
field hockey
Field hockey is a team sport structured in standard hockey format, in which each team plays with ten outfield players and a goalkeeper. Teams must drive a round hockey ball by hitting it with a hockey stick towards the rival team's shooting ...
for
The High School, Dublin
The High School is a 12–18 mixed, Church of Ireland, independent secondary school in Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland.
It was established in 1870 at Harcourt Street before moving to Rathgar in 1971 and amalgamated with The Diocesan School for Girl ...
. Her team mates and fellow students included
Alison Meeke
Alison Meeke (born 7 June 1991), also referred to as Ali Meeke, is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Meeke has also won Irish Senior Cup ...
.
In the 2005
Leinster Schoolgirls' Senior Cup final, Daly played in a High School team that lost 4–2 to an
Alexandra College
Alexandra College ( ir, Coláiste Alexandra) is a fee-charging boarding and day school for girls located in Milltown, Dublin, Ireland. The school operates under a Church of Ireland ethos.
History
The school was founded in 1866 and takes its ...
team featuring
Nicola Evans
Nicola Evans (born 17 January 1990), also referred to as Nikki Evans, is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Evans has also won Women's Ir ...
.
Daly and Meeke were also members the High School team that finished as runners-up in the 2005 Leinster Schoolgirls' Premier League. In the final they lost 2–0 to an Our Lady's,
Terenure
Terenure (), originally called ''Roundtown'', is an affluent, middle class suburb of Dublin in Ireland. It is located in the city's D6W postcode area.
Location and transport
Terenure lies primarily in the administrative area of Dublin City ...
team captained by
Emer Lucey
Emer Lucey is a Women's Irish Hockey League player. During the early 2010s she was member of the Railway Union team that won three leagues titles. In 2012–13 Lucey was also captain of the Railway Union team that won a national double, winnin ...
.
Glenanne
Daly played for
Glenanne during the 2008–09 season. She scored on her Glenanne debut, a 1–1 draw against Bray in the Leinster Division 1.
She was encouraged to play for Glenanne by
Graham Shaw.
Her teammates at Glenanne included
Mary Waldron.
Loreto
Daly first played for
Loreto from 2009 until 2013.
On 9 May 2010, together with
Hannah Matthews
Hannah Matthews (born 24 March 1991) is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Matthews has also won Irish Senior Cup and Women's Irish Hockey ...
,
Nikki Symmons
Nikki Symmons (born 2 August 1982) is a former Ireland women's field hockey international. Symmons is also a former Ireland women's cricket international. Between 2001 and 2013 Symmons made 208 appearances and scored 31 goals for Ireland. She ...
,
Lizzie Colvin
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Holden ( Colvin, born 4 January 1990) is a retired Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Colvin has also won Irish Senior Cup ...
and
Alison Meeke
Alison Meeke (born 7 June 1991), also referred to as Ali Meeke, is an Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup final. Meeke has also won Irish Senior Cup ...
, Daly was a member of the Loreto team that won the
Irish Senior Cup. They defeated
Railway Union in a
penalty shoot-out
The penalty shootout is a method of determining a winner in sports matches that would have otherwise been drawn or tied. The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to pe ...
after the game had finished 2–2.
The team was coached by
Graham Shaw.
On 13 May 2012 Daly also played for Loreto in the Irish Senior Cup final against
UCD. She scored Loreto's second goal in a 3–2 defeat.
Daly also helped Loreto finish as runners up in the 2012–13
Women's Irish Hockey League.
Daly re-joined Loreto for the latter half of the 2017–18 season. She subsequently scored the opening goal as Loreto defeated
Cork Harlequins
Cork Harlequins Hockey and Cricket Club is a multi-sports club based in the Douglas area of Cork in Ireland. The club was founded in 1925. Although Harlequins is best known for its field hockey and cricket teams, during its history the club has ...
2–1 to win the 2018
EY Champions Trophy.
Holcombe
Daly played for
Holcombe in the
Women's England Hockey League
The Women's England Hockey League is a field hockey league organised by England Hockey that features women's teams from England. From 2011-2020 it was sponsored by Investec and was referred to as the Investec Women's Hockey League.
Format Regula ...
between 2013 and 2015. Her teammates at Holcombe included
Megan Frazer
Megan Frazer (born 2 October 1990) is an Ireland women's national field hockey team, Ireland women's field hockey international. She was a member of the Ireland team that played in the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup. She has also captained the Ir ...
.
While playing for Holcombe she also worked at
Ford Dagenham
Ford Dagenham is a major automotive factory located in Dagenham, London, operated by the Ford of Britain subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. The plant opened in 1931 and has produced 10,980,368 cars and more than 39,000,000 engines in its history ...
and the
Dunton Technical Centre
The Dunton Campus (informally Ford Dunton or Dunton) is a major automotive research and development facility located in Dunton Wayletts, Laindon, Essex, United Kingdom owned and operated by Ford Motor Company. As Ford's European headquarters, ...
as a test engineer.
Muckross
Daly played for Muckross in the Leinster League during the 2015–16 season.
Ireland international
Daly made her debut for
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
against
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to th ...
in February 2010.
In March 2015 Daly was a member of the Ireland team that won a
2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 tournament hosted in
Dublin
Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...
, defeating
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
in the final after a
penalty shoot-out
The penalty shootout is a method of determining a winner in sports matches that would have otherwise been drawn or tied. The rules for penalty shootouts vary between sports and even different competitions; however, the usual form is similar to pe ...
.
On 10 June 2015 she scored an acclaimed solo goal against
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...
in the
2014–15 Women's FIH Hockey World League Semifinals. A report in ''
The Irish Times
''The Irish Times'' is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper and online digital publication. It launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Ruadhán Mac Cormaic. It is published every day except Sundays. ''The Irish Times'' is considered a newspaper ...
'' declared "Daly picks up the ball 25 yards out, runs around defenders, pops the ball in the air and volleys it past the Springbok goalkeeper, all at full pace".
Daly was a member of the Ireland team that won the
2015 Women's EuroHockey Championship II, defeating the
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic, or simply Czechia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Historically known as Bohemia, it is bordered by Austria to the south, Germany to the west, Poland to the northeast, and Slovakia to the southeast. The ...
5–0 in the final.
In January 2017 she was also a member of the Ireland team that won a
2016–17 Women's FIH Hockey World League Round 2 tournament in
Kuala Lumpur
, anthem = ''Maju dan Sejahtera''
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, pushpin_map = Malaysia#Southeast Asia#Asia
, pushpin_map_caption =
, coordinates =
, sub ...
, defeating
Malaysia
Malaysia ( ; ) is a country in Southeast Asia. The federation, federal constitutional monarchy consists of States and federal territories of Malaysia, thirteen states and three federal territories, separated by the South China Sea into two r ...
3–0 in the final.
Daly represented Ireland at the
2018 Women's Hockey World Cup
The 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup was the 14th edition of the Women's Hockey World Cup, a field hockey tournament. It was held from 21 July to 5 August 2018 at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London, England.
Defending champions t ...
and was a prominent member of the team that won the silver medal.
She featured in all of Ireland's games throughout the tournament, including the pool games against the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
,
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
,
and
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
,
the quarter-final against India,
the semi-final against
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
and the final against the
Netherlands
)
, anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau")
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands
, established_title = Before independence
, established_date = Spanish Netherl ...
.
In interviews, Daly has revealed how
Mariah Carey's ''
All I Want for Christmas Is You'' became the team's unofficial theme song. Daly explained that some of the younger members of the team had said that the excitement and anticipation they experienced during the tournament "felt like
Christmas Eve." The team subsequently began singing the song during training sessions and again during their homecoming celebrations.
Motor racing
Data engineer
Since April 2016 Daly has worked as a data engineer for
Juncos Racing
Juncos Hollinger Racing, formerly Juncos Racing, is an Argentine-American racing team competing in the NTT IndyCar Series, Indy Lights and Indy Pro 2000 Championship series in the Road to Indy ladder for IndyCar. Owned by Ricardo Juncos, who for ...
, based in
Indianapolis. Her cousin,
Conor Daly
Conor J. Daly (born December 15, 1991) is an American professional racing driver who competes in the NTT IndyCar Series, driving the No. 20 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing, and part-time in the NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 50 Chevrolet Ca ...
, had previously raced for the same team. While working for Juncos she lived with her uncle,
Derek Daly
Derek Patrick Daly (born 11 March 1953) is an Irish former racing driver. He won the 1977 British Formula 3 Championship, and competed as a professional racing driver for 17 years participating in 64 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix ...
.
While based in Indianapolis, Daly also worked as a volunteer field hockey coach with
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of Indiana University Bloomington, named after the colloquial term for people from the state of Indiana. The Hoosiers participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Ath ...
.
Racing driver
On 19 August 2018, just two weeks after playing for
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
in the
2018 Women's Hockey World Cup
The 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup was the 14th edition of the Women's Hockey World Cup, a field hockey tournament. It was held from 21 July to 5 August 2018 at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London, England.
Defending champions t ...
final, Daly made her debut as a motor racing driver at
Mondello Park
Mondello Park is Ireland's only international motorsport venue and is located in Caragh, County Kildare off the R409 regional road, approximately from Dublin city centre.
History
The Mondello Park short circuit was designed on farmland ne ...
. Daly drove as part of the Formula Female team in an event celebrating the track's 50th anniversary. She also co-founded the team. Daly was raising money for the
Irish Cancer Society
The Irish Cancer Society (formerly known as the Conquer Cancer Campaign) is the national charity in the Republic of Ireland dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, and improving the lives of those who have cancer.
History Fo ...
in honour of her father who had died of cancer on 15 November 2002, aged 48.
Honours
Field hockey
;
Ireland
Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...
*
Women's Hockey World Cup
The Women's FIH Hockey World Cup is the field hockey World Cup competition for women, whose format for qualification and the final tournament is similar to the men's. It has been held since 1974. The tournament has been organized by the Internat ...
**''Runners Up'':
2018
File:2018 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in PyeongChang, South Korea; Protests erupt following the Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi; March for Our Lives protests take place across the Unit ...
*
Women's FIH Hockey World League
The Women's FIH Hockey World League was an international women's field hockey competition organised by the International Hockey Federation. The league also served as a qualifier for the 2014 and 2018 Women's Hockey World Cups and the 2016 Oly ...
**''Winners'':
2015 Dublin,
2017 Kuala Lumpur
*Women's EuroHockey Championship II
**''Winners'':
2015
*
Women's Hockey Champions Challenge I
**''Runners Up'':
2014
File:2014 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Stocking up supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for the Western African Ebola virus epidemic; Citizens examining the ruins after the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping; Bundles of wat ...
*
Women's FIH Hockey Series
**''Runners Up'':
2019 Banbridge
*Women's Four Nations Cup
**''Runners Up'':
2017
File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a s ...
*Women's Field Hockey Olympic Qualifier
**''Runners Up'':
2012
File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...
;
Loreto
*
Irish Senior Cup
**''Winners'': 2009–10
**''Runners Up'': 2011–12
*
Women's Irish Hockey League
**''Runners Up'': 2012–13
*
EY Champions Trophy
**''Winners'': 2018
*EuroHockey Club Champion's Challenge II
**''Winners'': 2011: 1
;
The High School, Dublin
The High School is a 12–18 mixed, Church of Ireland, independent secondary school in Rathgar, Dublin, Ireland.
It was established in 1870 at Harcourt Street before moving to Rathgar in 1971 and amalgamated with The Diocesan School for Girl ...
*
Leinster Schoolgirls' Senior Cup
**''Runners Up'': 2005: 1
Gaelic football
;
Ballyboden Wanderers GAA
Wanderers (Irish: ''Fánaithe Bhaile Baodáin'') are a Gaelic Athletic Association club located in Ballyboden, Dublin, Ireland.
Background
Ballyboden Wanderers G.A.A. Club was founded in 1910. They played their first match against Clanna Gael ...
*Dublin Ladies Junior E Football Championship
**''Winners'': 2008
References
External links
*
Nicci Dalyat
Hockey Ireland
Hockey Ireland, previously known as the Irish Hockey Association, is the governing body for field hockey in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is responsible for organising both the Ireland men's national field hockey team and t ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Daly, Nicola
1988 births
Living people
Irish female field hockey players
Ireland international women's field hockey players
Female field hockey forwards
Female field hockey midfielders
Dublin inter-county ladies' footballers
Sportspeople from Dublin (city)
Alumni of Cranfield University
Irish racing drivers
Irish mechanical engineers
Irish field hockey coaches
People educated at The High School, Dublin
Women's Irish Hockey League players
Holcombe Hockey Club players
Irish expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Irish expatriate sportspeople in England
Women's England Hockey League players
Field hockey players from County Dublin
Field hockey players at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Nicola
Olympic field hockey players of Ireland