John D'Arcy (1785–1839) was the founder of town of Clifden, recognised as the capital of Connemara, in County Galway, Ireland.

[2] This was also to mar his attempt to gain the parliamentary seat for County Galway in 1812; an election he was to unsuccessfully contest on four further occasions.

[2] The date at which D'Arcy could be said to have founded the settlement he named Clifden might be said to be 1812 when he was to be granted patents to hold markets at fairs, this marking the transition from a village to a town.

[a] D'Arcy's wife Frances was to die on 15 June 1815; prior to a move to a newly constructed mansion for himself, Clifden Castle.

[3] The debts D'Arcy had accumulated became and a problem with the impact of the famine, forcing his son and heir, Hyacinth, to become bankrupt.