In Memory Of Our Dear Friend Daire – ¡Presente!
We’re sadly here to tell you that Daire Brian Irwin has passed on.
Daire spent a lifetime in service: to the community, to his friends and clients, and to his dearly beloved family. He was such a beacon of hope and actual help. No fight was too hard, no odds to slim, no feelings too raw for him to at least try to help. How we celebrate his life, how we will miss his presence, how we hope and pray we all can emulate that loving care and courage that Daire always embodied!!
Daire gave Know Your Rights trainings for the WNYPC, a vital part of our Nonviolence trainings. He represented so many people in court, so very much too often pro bono … – yes and dogs – Daire saved my dog Pippi’s life when he represented her in court after her relentless (and scary) domination of another dog. His representation was always masterful, his defenses always reaching to the heart of the matter.
And of course, Daire was always defending the underdog, the oppressed, the ones hurt and treated ill by an unjust and heartless system. He defended Occupy Buffalo and those arrested at the end; he pursued rightful compensation from those whose belongings were trashed by those bulldozers. He was the go-to defender of those challenging the authorities through civil resistance – counselor, ally, supporter, and above all friend. Loving truthful friend ….
His truth-telling, analyses, viewpoint was always helpful – revealing, illuminating, refreshing, – and funny too. Laced with many swearwords to release some of that great energy borne of passion and compassion, you always learned from Daire. How wonderful to get to listen to him, and to be in his presence.
He was so generous with his time in pursuit of justice, so kind in response to needs, so passionate in his caring. Countless people and groups benefited from his advice, outlook, and efforts. We are so grateful to have been some of them. How very privileged and lucky we were and are to have known him!!
That very bright and wonderful light that shone on this earth, is now shining in a new cosmos… A cosmos, a plane where it’s always the Ides of March, a great favorite holiday of Daire’s! Maybe in that cosmos the wrongs are already righted, the retribution has already happened, and the relief is already there.
Thank you, Daire!! We love you!!
Daire Brian Irwin, Presente!!!
-Vicki Ross, Interim Executive Director
If “walking to the beat of your own drum” was a person, that would be Daire Brian Irwin. His unwavering moral compass guided him in his lifelong fight for those who need it most. From his tireless advocacy of the vulnerable, in legal representation and activism, to cherished father to Kai, loving partner to Kamalie, treasured brother to his four siblings, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, to trusted confidant and uncle to his nieces and nephews, and a friend to many, Daire was always there. Unequivocally believing in the most fundamental of rights guaranteed in our Constitution, his greatest hope was that Kai grows up knowing that justice, liberty and happiness belong to all. Upon becoming a father, Daire’s motto was “Kai is why.”
Daire’s legal career spanning three decades focused primarily on Criminal Defense, often pro bono representation of marginalized members in our community. In addition to years in private practice, Daire spent part of his career as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, where he brought his enthusiasm and expertise to defending clients in housing court, drug court, and mental health court, among others. No matter a client’s history or circumstances, Daire always stepped up, giving a voice to the unheard.
His pro bono work to the community at large included providing “know your rights” trainings through the Western New York Civil Liberties Union, activist support work through National Lawyers Guild, and legal support to defend Occupy Buffalo, among many others. And for much of his life, Daire regularly attended rallies for countless causes, including for peace and LGBTQ+ rights, and against income inequality and police/political violence. Daire’s advocacy also extended beyond borders. In his early years, Daire traveled to Nicaragua with Witness for Peace, living with Nicaraguans as a protective, non-violent presence during the Contra conflict. Later in life, he joined a Buffalo contingent serving as election observers in Ukraine, to maintain the integrity of fair elections.
On February 20, 2026, Daire passed peacefully. This loss is deeply felt by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Tributes to the remarkable life he lived flooded in from his school friends, colleagues within the legal community, community activists, and former clients. All reflecting the amazing human being, the lawyer, and the friend he truly was.
In addition to Kamalie and Kai, Daire is survived by his siblings, Maureen (Thomas) Maguire, Sean (Suzanne), Tara Hahn, and Alannah, and nine nieces and nephews, as well as many extended family members. In Daire’s honor, family members plan to attend the No Kings Rally 3. A private Celebration of Daire’s Life will be held at a later date.
“Your spirit shines in all we do, a legacy forever true.”
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