In the saying "Living the life of Riley" - who originally was Riley?

Question:

In the saying "Living the life of Riley" - who originally was Riley?

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"Living the life of Riley" suggests an ideal life of prosperity and contentment, possibly living on someone else's money, time or work. Rather than a negative freeloading or golddigging aspect, it instead implies that someone is kept or advantaged. The expression was popular in the 1880s, a time when James Whitcomb Riley's poems depicted the comforts of a prosperous home life, but it could have an Irish origin: After the Riley clan consolidated its hold on County Cavan, they minted their own money, accepted as legal tender even in England. These coins, called ??O'Reillys?? and ??Reilly's,?? became synonymous with a monied person, and a gentleman freely spending was ??living on his Reillys.??