1976-77 Michael O'Malley (No 24)

Michael O'Malley (1946 - 2020) was the son of John Joseph O'Malley of Rathdowney and Evelyn Saunderson of Manchester and grandson of J. A. O'Malley of Clare island. Educated at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny and the Vocational College, Rathdowney, he trained as a mechanical maintenance fitter, serving a 6-year apprenticeship with Bord na Mona. He worked for ten years at Tynagh and Tara mines as a project manager and was plant maintenance manager with HBM Ascon for the construction of the jetty at Moneypoint Power Station on the Shannon Estuary,  a major civil engineering project. After working on several other contracts, he later retrained as an aircraft mechanic and worked on aircraft maintenance at Shannon Aerospace until his retirement. He married Kay Bagnall in 1971 and had 3 children: Denise (Chieftain No 69), Kenneth and John. They lived in several places around Ireland, including Athlone, Co Westmeath,  Barefield, and later in Corofin, both in Co. Clare. Michael was involved in motor sport, fishing, shooting and hurling. He trained the Doora/Barefield Camogie team and brought them from Junior C to Intermediate, having trained as a Camogie referee to have a better understanding of the game.

He was elected Chieftain of the O'Malley Clan in 1976 and held his Rally at the Old Head hotel in Louisburgh, Co Mayo which was managed at the time by his successor as Chieftain, Martin O'Malley. Michael's family have been involved in the O'Malley Clan for many years and have also provided chieftains Martin O'Malley (No 18), Gerry O'Malley (No 20), Declan O'Malley (No 30), Ellen O'Malley Dunlop (No 41), Mary O'Sullivan Sands (No 53), Grace O'Malley (No 68) and Denise O'Malley Kelly (No 69).

A clipping from an Athlone newspaper when Michael was inaugurated as Chieftain.