1966-67 Prof Eoin O'Malley (No 14)

Prof Eoin O'Malley (picture courtesy of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland)

Eoin O'Malley (1919 - 2007) was born in Galway, to Prof Michael O'Malley (Chieftain No 8) and Christina Ryan, the second of their seven children. After early schooling in Galway, he went to Clongowes Wood College, followed by medical school first in Galway, where his father was Professor of Surgery, and then in University College Dublin from where he graduated in 1942.

Both at school and at university he excelled throughout his career obtaining 1st place, prizes and distinctions in all his examinations. He was also a formidable debater and rugby player. 

He received his surgical training in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, in Southend General Hospital and at the Lahey Clinic in Boston. He obtained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1947 and the MCh degree from the National University of Ireland in the same year. He was appointed to the consultant staff of the Mater Hospital as general and cardiac surgeon at the age of 31. He was the UCD Professor of Surgery there from 1958 until he retired from clinical practice in 1986. 

In the early 1970s a new National Surgical Training Programme was established, which led to Ireland gaining a high reputation internationally for the quality of its surgical training. Eoin O'Malley was a key figure in this change. 

Eoin O'Malley, a Council Member since 1965, became the President of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1983. His was an outstanding Presidency, coinciding with the Bicentenary of the RCSI, an event celebrated in Ireland and lauded by the surgical community worldwide. 

Recognising the need for surgery in Ireland to keep pace with the developments occurring everywhere he was a founder member of the Irish Surgical Travellers' Club, which arranged visits to overseas departments.

Eoin O'Malley and Una O'Higgins were married in 1952. Una qualified as a solicitor and in addition to raising their six children - Kevin (a third-generation consultant surgeon), Art, Chris, Eoin, Finbarr and Iseult - she went on to become an inspiring national figure. Her father, Kevin O'Higgins, Minister for Justice and a formidable figure in the Irish independence movement, had been assassinated when she was five months old. She spoke and wrote of reconciliation, forgiveness and peace in moving and poignant terms. She was heroic in her tireless, selfless activity in promoting peace on the island of Ireland and was one of the founders of the Glencree Reconciliation Centre. In her internationally acclaimed efforts, she was supported fully and with obvious pride by Eoin.

Eoin developed open heart cardiac surgery in Ireland and the cardiac surgery unit in the Mater Hospital is named the 'Prof Eoin O'Malley National Centre for Cardiothoracic Surgery' in tribute to him. 

"Interested in everything and knowledgeable about most," he wrote about his friend and colleague, Keith Shaw. These words could also be applied to Eoin who, in addition to his wide and deep medical knowledge, knew about trees, plants, meteorology, fish and fishing, literature, theatre, politics, history and was a wonderful companion on social occasions. 

After retirement University College Dublin honoured him with the title of Emeritus Professor of Surgery.  He was Honorary MD from the National University of Ireland, honorary DSc from the Queen's University of Belfast, and was Honorary Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. 

Eoin was elected as the 14th Chieftain of the O'Malley Clan in 1966. He held his rally at Carrigahowley Castle in 1967. His father Michael was the 8th Chieftain of the Clan and his uncle Conor (2nd), sisters Ethna (23rd) and Sheila (40th) and brother Peter (32nd) were all Chieftains.