1996 Gathering (No 44)

Report on the 44th O'Malley Clan Rally

June 14-16 1996

During his sermon at the Mass in Kilgeever on Sunday, 16 June, Fr. Pat said that Kitty must have been well in with the "man above" and she nearly believed it herself. As it seemed when changing the date of the Rally to the middle of June instead of the last weekend, as had become tradition, that nothing would go right. Schools had not closed, children were in the middle of Leaving and Junior Certificates, the Granuaile Centre in Louisburgh closed down and nobody has booked from overseas.

Then came the weekend, the weather started improving and by Friday the sun was shining brightly and warmly. This was very important as the Rally was held in the magnificent Delphi Valley and Kitty had hoped that the weather would be good so that everybody could enjoy its magnificence.

The setting was Delphi Adventure Centre taken over by the Clan for the weekend, a terrific idea because its owners, Frank and Deirdre Noone, and all their staff including instructors, particularly Gerry, just got with the spirit of the Rally and went to town converting the interior of the Gym into a medieval banqueting hall with currachs, fishing nets, banners and even creating an atmosphere with the background of sound and light and a fireplace in the comer.

Luckily the Granuaile Centre in Louisburgh re-opened and was available for the Registration ably manned by Mary Collins, Maurice O'Malley and Mary Jane O'Malley. Business was brisk and Austin and Merle Bergin of the Airmirghin Gallery put a visual art exhibition in the Centre to run in conjunction with the Rally. The works on display all had O'Malley connections, Kitty's husband, Wayne Harlow, had paintings and bogwood sculpture, Linda Mulloy's stained glass, daughter-in-law of former Chieftain, Sheila O'Malley-Mulloy, Meike Blackwell's mirrors, widow of former Chieftain Joseph O'Malley-Blackwell, Meetje O'Sullivan's pastels, married to Molly O'Sullivan's brother and former chieftain, Ellen's first cousin. It was a terrifically varied exhibition and a set of Nativity Sculptures brought home from Malawi by Fr. Pat O'Malley, the Chaplain for the weekend, put the finishing touches to the collection. It would be great to give the exhibitors a more national venue at some future date. The exhibition ran for two weeks after the rally.

Anne O'Malley-Kelly ably chaired a series of historic talks in the Exhibition room while the registration was taking place in the hall. The talks were given by John Lyons, author of "Louisburgh A History of the Area" who held the audience enthralled.

Sheila O'Malley-Mulloy, clan Historian, talked about the O'Malleys of Umhall and explained Sir Samuel O'Malley's link with the Old Head/Kilgeever area and the last talk was given by Gerry Walshe, archaeologist, on the current state of the archaeological dig on Croagh Patrick. Gerry showed stunning slides which led to a lively question and answer session.

People then returned to their various abodes and a large group, who had booked into the Adventure Centre, wandered their way back in the twilight along the edge of the Doolough Lake and it was a truly magical drive.

Saturday proved to be a busy day. The golfers who assembled in Castlebar had to delay the O'Malley Championship because of the sudden death of the Club captain. When they eventually teed off, there were 25 participants, men and women. The venue this year was former Chieftain, Michael's, home club and we thank him for his superb organisation and congratulate him for winning the trophy (honestly it wasn't fixed) and to Loretta O'Malley for winning the Ladies' prize.

In the meantime, 80 Clan members and friends were ably ferried by Gerry to the two lnishturk boats sitting lazily in the sun in the flat calm on Killary Harbour. It was like the classic film set, full of babble and talk, bagpipes playing, flags blowing in the breeze behind the boats. Unfortunately as the tide was out, it took one hour to load up the two boats, done with ease and great humour by Gerry and the lads from Delphi, ferrying us 10 at a time from the pier at Dundorragha to the boats lolling in the bay. Nobody minded as it was so beautiful, the land rising on both sides of Killary, the rhododendrons in bloom, people on horse-back lazily sauntering along the edge of the bay -it was all heavenly.

When we eventually set off down the Killary, the heat and sun were beating down, Ruairi Somers piped us out to sea, the O'Malley flag flying one boat and the tricolour in the other, it was like sailing to Atlantis, the sun was so warm and hazy and Michael O'Toole of the Leenane Heritage Centre and previously of lnishturk gave the history and folklore of the area. He travelled out in one boat and home in the other so that nobody was neglected. We thank him sincerely for his contribution.

Out of the haze one hour later came lnishturk and there on the pier, in full regalia, was Eoin O'Malley, the Clan Piper, giving us a rousing welcome. He and former Chieftain, Peter McGee, had come out ahead in Peter's catamaran to pave the way for us.

All the locals were out to greet us and the ladies committee had prepared a magnificent lunch for us in the community centre. To hear the pipers leading the group up the hill (very steep) from the harbour to the Community Centre was like a scene from an ancient pageant. Unfortunately time was flying, so little time was had to explore the island but we hope that it will make people curious to go back now that they have seen it and experience the hospitality. It was like a Greek island with golden sand and turquoise blue inlets and a few lucky people had a quick dip. The island was awash with yellow irises, grey stone walls, green grassy fields, blue skies.

Back to the boats and this time the Chieftain left with former Chieftain Peter on his catamaran, Fr. Des, Piper Owen and Kitty, Derek and Fionnuala Kilfeather hoping to get in before the other boats to be in Delphi Lodge to greet the guests for the garden party. But, of course, the best laid plans of mice and men gang aft aglae. Off we go but we are only about half way when the lnishturk boats passed us out so instead of being first, we were last! Quick rush and plans for coming by boat up the lake from the Adventure centre to the Lodge had to be dashed as the Garden Party had already begun.

Peter and Jane Mantle really did us proud. The tables were laid out on the lawn which led from the house down to the lakeshore with the mountains rising majestically on the other side and the mature trees all around the lawn screening the house and lawn from the road. Ruairi and Eoin dressed in their kilts and gaily playing. Strawberries, cream and champagne flowing and at least one hundred and fifty clansmen and guests never wanted to leave. The house was open to us and I think the house guests were quite mesmerised by the whole carry on.

Two hours later, it was time to move to the Adventure Centre for the 44th Annual General Meeting of the Clan. After the Treasurer's and Secretary's reports, the A.G.M. was held and Don O'Malley of Limerick was elected Tánaiste to succeed Ann O'Malley Kelly as Chieftain and Michael Castlebar elected Chairman of the local committee to replace Peter McGee, who resigned. Peter was thanked for all his work over the years.

The Chieftain's Reception then took place. A marvellous barbecue was built out in the courtyard and people had the choice of eating out in the grounds or in the gym converted to a banqueting hall with bar and musicians led by Olean Masterson who played their hearts out until the early hours of the morning. Clan members danced the Siege of Ennis and the Walls of Limerick, half sets and to top cap the whole event, John Coll, Mayo's Arts Officer, played a tune he composed for the occasion, "A Tribute to the Chieftain". It was a glorious occasion, young and old mingled, talked, danced, sang and generally enjoyed the craic.

The staff who had dressed up as medieval knights, lords, jesters must have faded away to half size with the heat in their furs and doublets and hose but they were in such good fun and never complained.

Next morning a most emotional Mass was said by Fr. Padraig O'Maille, concelebrated with Fr. Des in Kilgeever and it was then discovered that it was a very historical occasion as it was the first Mass to be celebrated there in 400 years. Fionnuala O'Malley's beautiful singing and the Chieftain's cousin, Michelle Ryan's, accompaniment on the harp leaning against a tombstone with the golden furze ablaze all around the valley, with Clew Bay with Clare Island peeping in the distance, the silence, no cars, no 20th century intrusions, Fr. Pat's very sensitive celebration getting us all to take part and his marvellous sermon (talk rather than preaching) on kinship and friendship was enough to stir the most hardened heathen's soul (and I know there were many there!). Much thanks to Fr. Pat, former Chieftain, Anthony's son and Fr. Des for such a wonderful occasion. Looking around and seeing hats and umbrellas keeping the sun off was a miracle in itself. The Chieftain and the former Chieftains were led off by the flag bearers and pipers back through the valley to lunch at Delphi Adventure Centre again, another marvellous meal where some entertainment was provided by Wayne Harlow, Kitty's husband and Etáin O'Malley of Burrishoole from New York (former Chieftain Cormac's sister), with a sketch written by Wayne of being a stranger dropped into the middle of a Clan gathering. The golf prizes were presented and the raffle prizes - the raffle was organised by committee members Philip Dunlop and Mary Jane and was a huge success with such wonderful prizes as the Tony O'Malley Art Book, cases of wine, fishing trip, a bogoak sculpture, O'Malley memorabilia, etc. The finale to the weekend was provided by Niamh O'Kelly and the Mayo Bell Choir who brought down the house. They were such a surprise as very few people had ever heard a hand bell choir in Ireland and as well as playing they sang and it was just a unique and fantastic ending to an unbelievably beautiful and once in a lifetime weekend.

Thanks is due to all the local committee for their help under the chairmanship of Peter McGee, Secretary Mary Jane O'Malley, Photographer Michael O'Malley, Recording secretary Meike Blackwell, Golf organiser Michael O'Malley, Raffle organiser Philip Dunlop. To Sheila and Ann for all their help and support and to Maurice our treasurer for keeping us afloat. Many thanks to Sal, our Guardian Chieftain, and sorry she could not have been with us but she was not forgotten as Mary Collins to whom we are deeply indebted for all the addressing and bookings and manning of the door which is above and beyond the call of duty, to Eoin Kenny who invariably puts his shoulder to the grindstone and my friends Derek Kilfeather and Michael O'Connor for being very capable flag bearers. To the Noones and the Mantles and all their staff for their courtesy and good humour and finally to our pipers led by Clan Piper Eoin, Ruari Somers and John Coll, both colleagues and my cousin, Michelle Ryan, for bringing her harp from Tipperary and to everybody for coming especially those who travelled from New Zealand, America, England, Luxembourg and all parts of Ireland for the weekend and, last but not least, Ellen O'Malley Dunlop for producing the Newsletter. Go mbeirimíd beo.

Kitty O'Malley Harlow

Taken from the 1997 Newsletter. Another account by Michael Mullen is on pp 98 &99 of the O'Malley Journal 1997.