The family originally humble farmers from Pártraí, County Mayo, who moved to Galway in the 1480s.
Dubhaltach MacFhirbhisigh states that this Walter Riabhach was"the first man of the Uí Dorchaidhe who came to Galway, according to the Galweigians themselves".
Darcy was at one point vice-president of Connacht By his first marriage to a Miss Bodkin, he fathered Nicholas, Martin, James, Anthony and Anastace.
He died towards the end of his term, and was replaced in office by Christopher Lynch, who had been his predecessor.
His descendants included Patrick D'Arcy and John Darcy, the founder of Clifden.