1958-59 Tomás Ó Máille (No 6)

Prof Tomás S Ó Máille (1904 - 1990) was born in Staffordhire, UK of Irish parents from Tuam, Co Galway. While studying at Manchester University, he attended a lecture by his namesake, Prof Tomás Ó Máille, first professor of Irish in University College Galway, and became interested in the Irish language and in Irish literature. He moved to Galway in 1929 and graduated in Irish and History. He worked as a teacher at C.B.S, Sexton ST,. Limerick for three years before being appointed as an Assistant in Irish in University College Galway in 1937. He became a lecturer in Celtic Languages and then served as Professor of Modern Irish from 1954 to 1975. He contributed to academic journals in in Ireland and elsewhere on topics connected with he Irish language, particularlly on the history and origin of Irish placenames, .  Among his works are Sean Fhocla Chonnacht (Connacht proverbs), Líosta Focal as Ros Muc (A list of words from Rosmuck) and Breaca, a work on the metrics of Irish bardic poetry. His wife was Lil Hughes from Bunclody, Co Wexford. He was elected Chieftain No 6 of the O'Malley Clan in 1958.