2000-01 Eoin O'Malley (No 48)

O'Malley Clan Piper Eoin O'Malley

Eoin's eldest son Owen admiring his Dad's signage

Eoin O'Malley (1934 - 2015) was born in Rabaun, Swinford, Co Mayo to Michael and Kate O'Malley. He moved to London in 1956 where he set up a construction business and became a successful property developer. He married Mairead and had 6 children, before returning to Swinford in 1976. 

He took up the bagpipes in his teens and later became the official O'Malley Clan piper, taking over from Michael O'Malley in 1985 and holding that role for over 20 years. He founded the Connacht branch of the Irish Pipe Band Association and was its Chairman for several years. His favourite pastime was attending Fleadhanna Cheoil around Ireland.

He attended the first O'Malley Clan Rally in 1953 and most of those after that. He served on the O'Malley Clan Committee for many years. He was elected the 48th Chieftain of the O'Malley Clan in 2000 and held his Gathering in Leenane in 2001.

His obituary gives a vivid description:

"While talking to Chieftain Eoin's Rabaun, Swinford neighbors after his passing in 2015, story after story emerged of how innovative, modern and visionary he was; he was very practical with his hands; always able to fix things that most couldn't. As a very young man who helped bring electricity and hay sheds to hundreds of local families, he was known also to tame wild horses, drive hackney cars and partake in making and drinking the odd batch of puteen. Many stories emerged of just how much he helped other people wherever he went and however he could. His knowledge of current affairs, albeit with an O'Malley-biased view, was razor sharp and all in all, throughout his 80 years plus that he lived on this planet, all the thousands of people that he engaged with, most were better off having met and known this larger-than-life character. "