1955 Gathering (No 3)

The third O'Malley Clan Rally was held at the Warwick Hotel in Salthill, Galway on 25th September 1955, hosted by Prof Conor O'Malley of Galway. Some 250 O'Malleys attended.

A group photo of some of the attendees taken by the Connacht Tribune photographer. Among those in the photo were: 1 Charles O'Malley of Westport (Joint Clan Secretary and Chieftain No 7); 2 - Andrew O'Malley N.T. of Kilmeena, (Clan Joint Secretary); 3 - Bartley O'Malley of Dunmore, Co Galway (Chieftain No 9); 4 - Patrick 'Pa' O'Malley of Westport Quay (Clan Joint Secretary and father of Chieftains No 46, Maurice and No 63, Pearce); 5 - Dr. Pearse O'Malley of Co Armagh and Co Wicklow (Chieftain No 4); 6 - Dentist Charlie O'Malley of Limerick (Chieftain No 5) and 7 - Prof Michael G O'Malley of Galway (Chieftain No 8),

If anyone can identify others in this picture, please let us know at omalleyclanireland@gmail.com and we'll add them in.

The Connacht Sentinel of 27th September, 1954, gave a comprehensive report of the O'Malley Clan Rally. Similar coverage was published in The Connacht Tribune and the Irish Independent.

The Chieftain's address of welcome to the Clan:

Mr Past President John J. O'Malley, members of the Council, fellow Clansmen and Clanswomen. It is a great honour and a great pleasure for me your president to welcome you tone and all here today to this third great rally of the O'Malley Clan in modern times. Rallies of O'Malleys in olden days would, I am sure, contrast strangely with to-day's gathering. A hosting of O'Malley Clansmen of the 12th and 13th century on an island in Clew Bay or on the slopes of Croagh Patrick is a far call from this modern gathering in a grand hotel in Salthill. Although many O'Malleys might feel more at home in the shadow of the Reek, we think it was a brainwave on the part of our excellent and tireless secretaries, Patrick and Andrew O'Malley to select Galway City for our meeting today. (Cheers) There is an old saying: "Co. Mayo, God help us", Co. Galway, glad to get us." I do not know why Co. Mayo should be "God help us" since it is one of the finest counties we have and not the least part of its distinction is that it is the seat of the ancient Kingdom of Umhal, the cradle of the O'Malley nation. Anyhow, I would say whether or not Co. Mayo is ''God help us", certainly to-day, Co. Galway is "glad to get us."

We are pleased to have with us also today clansmen from far afield: i) Mr Patrick E O'Malley Ardmachree and the clansmen of Limerick including Mr Charles O'Malley, George O'Malley, Kevin O'Malley Michael O'Malley and a number of fair ladies. 2) Mr George O'Malley of Manchester and 3) Mr J O'Malley of New Zealand and 4) Major Harold O'Malley of Tipperary.

It is only natural that when an ancient storied clan gets together that we should dabble a little in ancient history. I hope you will have seen last week's "Connacht Tribune" and read the article in Irish on the Clann O'Maille by Fr. O'Malley. He takes us back to the dawn of history where the origin of the O'Malley Clan bends with the twilight of the old Celtic God or Hero Mannanan Mac Lir of the Sea. Great legends of this kind give us a perspective of the clan stretching back in to history. Again another writer in that same issue of the "Connacht Tribune" in the leading article brings the Clan into historic times, when he points that today the O'Ma1leys are welcome in Galway although this was not always so. Galway City Fathers at one time, as you know, proclaimed as their slogan that "neither 'O' nor 'Mac' shall strut or march through the streets of Galway." I nave personally always found it difficult to understand this unfriendly attitude of the City Fathers and shop keepers towards theircustomers outside the walls. Surely it was the 'Os' and the 'Macs' who produced the wool and hides and live cargo to fill the ships of Galway; and who else bought the wines of Spain and other , consumer goods that made the merchant princes rich and proud. Gaiway of the XVII century had no use for the old stock except to take their money seemingly. It was all take and no put in those days.

Old Galway seemed to be particularly unfriendly toward the O'Malleys. History records how the rich merchant princes fitted out a fleet under Admiral William Martin which proudly set sail from Galway in the Autumn of 1579to make war on the O;Malleys. The story of this grand campaign brought no glory to Galway. Admiral Martin attacked Admiral Granuaile and was beaten to a frazzle. The remnant of the tribesmen escaped to Galway with their tails between their legs leaving many good Galwegians beneath the waters of Clew Bay and the clay of An Parc Dearg or bloody field of Burrishoole. There are no longer any walls around Galway and all true men and fair women of the O'Malley name receive a kindly welcome in this noble City of the Tribes. Now that we have left the bad old 1reland of famine and rebellion behind us, the great clans are waking up and taking heed of their ancient glory like the O'Donnells of the North and O'Donohues of the South. The O'Malley motto "terra marique potens" - strong on land and sea, bespeaks a fighting spirit essential in days of storm and strife. I think, however, that in modern times we might tend to our more peaceful motto, namely, "A tribe of hospitality and brotherly love." The Christian spirit enshrined in this beautiful old Irish attribute of the Clan O'Malley cannot be surpassed. Indeed, something of this spirit is the only hope of all men and the essential foundation of international goodwill if the world of to-day is to survive the Atomic age .

It has not been possible yet to organise the vast O'Malley Clan in U.S.A. In this connection. I would like to pay tribute to the work of Thomas O'Malley of Brooklyn. In your name I would 1 like to tell him how we appreciate the work he has already done and wish him success in his future endeavours. We hope that our rallies will presently lead to a solid organisation - with a representative council and a sound constitution. To this end we would welcome suggestions from the members; or the views of any O'Malley anywhere as to how best to implen1ent the machinery of the Clan. We want a Clan rule of life, embodying the noble attribute given in olden times by a great poet of Ireland to the O'Malleys: "A tribe of hospitality and Brotherly love."