1967 Gathering (No 15)

Outgoing Chieftain Prof Eoin O'Malley pins on incoming Chieftain George O'Malley's Chieftain's medal at Carrigahowley Castle.

An extract from the sailing memoir of Denis McMahon from Limerick:

1967

At this time also I shared "The Mermatron" with George O'Malley - we paid 50 ponds each for her. We took her to Achill where I sailed her and george worked three lobster pots under sail. I was keener to cruise. One day George (to my surprise) agreed - we would sail into Clew Bay to Carrigahowley, a Grainne Mhaol (Grace O'Malley) castle.

The day before, we loaded her with all equipment, boarded her and capsized her in Purteen harbor - to make sure she would float! - she did!. A crowd looked on and it looked as though we were sailing to America.

We set off the following morning under sail (we had no engine) with a road map, round Achill Beg into Mulranny Bay. We arrived at Mulranny pir - no wives, who were supposed to meet us - we found them drinking in the hotel bar.

The following say we set out through the myriad islands that lie in Clew Bay. By some miracle we found Carrigahowley bay and the castle where a large crowd had collected. George sounded the fog horn to announce our arrival and only then explained that the annual meeting of the O'Malley Clan was in progress and that he was the Chief Elect - during the day it was remarked that I was a stranger - so I was declared "Bádóir" to the Clan O'Malley. 

Note: Teenage Brendan O'Malley was a (very junior) crew member on the boat.

The 1967 Gathering of the O'Malley Clan was held at Carrigahowley Castle on Clew Bay on Sunday 27th August. 

Mayo News 2nd September 1967. Click on the image to open a .pdf of the article