1954 Gathering (No 2)
Chieftain John J O'Malley with a group of overseas visitors. From left:Mrs. S O'Malley, Mr Denis O'Malley (Bristol, England), Mr Lawrence O'Malley (Leominster, Mass, USA), Miss Margaret Walsh (Long Island, NY, USA), Chieftain, Rev Thomas O'Malley (Holyoake, Mass, USA), Mr Martin A O'Malley (Quincy, Mass, USA)
- Photo: Irish Independent
The second O'Malley Clan Rally was held on 12th September 1954 in Westport, Carrigahowley and Mulranny. Many overseas visitors attended, travelling from the UK, USA and as far distant as Nigeria, as well as from all over Ireland. The youngest was 12-month-old Maurice O'Malley from Westport Quay (destined to be Chieftain and Guardian Chieftain in later years) and the oldest was 81-year-old John J O'Malley, outgoing chieftain of the Clan.
After the last mass in Westport, under a large banner bearing the words "Fáilte go Cathair na Mart" (Welcome to Westport), the Westport band played a selection of Irish airs. The committee members and their families gathered outside the Railway Hotel in Westport to welcome the visitors, where they were addressed by Chieftain John J O'Malley. He welcomed all who had travelled from near and far in the spirit of kinship with their fellow clansmen. He also emphasised that despite his name being put forward for a second term as Chieftain, he believed in the system agreed at the inaugural rally the previous year that the Chieftain should serve in that role for a year and then be succeeded by the Vice Chieftain.
Another group shot, featuring several members of the committee and future chieftains. 4th from left is Tom O'Malley, and 6th is Charles O'Malley, both future Chieftains. On the right, Chieftain John J is flanked by the two joint secretaries, Pa and Andrew O'Malley
- Photo: Irish Press
The lunch menu, very similar to inaugural one the year before. Note the wine list priced in shillings. There were 20 shillings to the pound sterling.
Mr Andrew O'Malley, joint Secretary of the Clan, then introduced Rev Thomas O'Malley of Clinton, Massachusetts, who told the crowd that he believed there was not an O'Malley between Westport and Louisburgh who did not have a relative in Clinton. The O'Malleys had already given nine priests to the church when he arrived in Clinton and since then had given many more.
The next speaker was Denis O'Malley of Bristol, England who said that he was the only O'Malley in a city of three quarters of a million people and that his father and brothers were the only O'Malleys he had ever met before coming to Ireland.
He was followed by "Big Tom" O'Malley from Murrisk and former head of the O'Malley Insurance Corporation of Chicago who received a rousing welcome. He said he knew Clinton, Massachusets when 14,000 of its 15,000 inhabitants were from the west of Ireland. In Chicago, he had sponsored the first O'Malley clan rally and there had been 3,500 in attendance, with even more in subsequent years. (Note: There is an account of the Chicago O'Malleys and their picnics in the 1930s in the December 2025 Newsletter).
George O'Malley of Manchester, England said that everything he had heard about the hospitality of the O'Malleys was true. He was feeling numb from the welcome he had received and could not recall at what time he had been allowed to go to bed the night before.
Another George O'Malley, this time from Limerick, represented his father Paddy, who was unable to be present. He brought greetings from all parts of Munster and especially Limerick to all present. Dr Pearse O'Malley of Belfast said it was a pleasure for him and his wife Cllr Mary O'Malley to be in a free country celebrating gaelic culture which had flourished a thousand years before.
Other speakers were John O'Malley of the Imperial Chemical Company, England, Rev Fr T O'Malley from Inishboffin, Charles O'Malley Chairman of the O'Malley Clan committee and Pa O'Malley, Joint Secretary.
The next stage of the Rally was at Granuaile's Carrigahowley Castle, whose restoration provided the impetus for the founding of the Clan Association. After inspection of the castle, including by some boys who climbed up the outside of the roof to sit on the ridge, Fr John O'Malley S.M.A., a native of Killeen, Louisburgh, on holidays from the mission fields of Nigeria, noted how family and clan meant everything to the social life of the people there. Fr Charles O'Malley of Inishboffin spoke of the common O'Malley relationship to Granuaile, at least in spirit. He was followed by another Fr John O'Malley, this time from Carraroe, Co Galway who said he would like the O'Malleys to look to the future and do something worthwhile. This sentiment was echoed by Mrs Mary O'Malley a member of Belfast City Council, who suggested an O'Malley museum in Westport and getting O'Malley writers to produce a full history of the Clan. She also suggested that there should be some means of helping less fortunate Clansmen.
Prof Tomás Ó Máille, speaking in Irish, stressed the need for a history of the Clan, whose heritage of land and sea in Connacht was unsurpassed. The O'Malleys had done great deeds and had plenty to be proud of. He also apologised on behalf of Prof Conor O'Malley, the Chieftain-elect, whose unavoidable absence was due to representing the Irish Medical council at a conference in the USA. Fr O'Malley from Kilmeena, Newport, also spoke in Irish and hoped that the O'Malleys would be to the forefront in preserving the language. Major Harold O'Malley of Suir Castle, Golden, Co Tipperary remarked on the widespread travels of the O'Malleys, saying he had met O'Malleys all over the world. He supported Mary O'Malley's proposal of a museum that could store the many historical documents in the possession of the clan members around the world and suggested a scholarship fund for future generations of O'Malley children.
After saluting the flags, the party moved to the Great Southern Hotel in Mulranny for lunch (see the menu above). After lunch, prof Conor O'Malley was elected Chief and Paddy O'Malley of Limerick was elected Vice Chief.