Chieftains of the O'Malley Clan
The O'Malley Clan Association is led by the Chieftain, who serves in office for a year - from one Clan Gathering to the next. At each Gathering, the annual general meeting elects a Tánaiste, who succeeds as Chieftain the following year. The first Chieftain, John J O'Malley, was elected in 1953 and has been succeeded by over 70 chieftains in the intervening years. Click on the year below to see an account of that year's Chieftain of the Clan.
The Chieftain's hand-woven cloak was commissioned and presented to the clan by Mary O'Sullivan Sands (Chieftain No 53), of the Rathdowney O'Malley family. The cloak was woven by Beth Moran of Clare Island and the natural dyes she used were created from the plants and flowers of the island. The wool came from Clare Island sheep.
The O'Malley Clan Chieftain's Staff was carved by Sculptor Wayne Harlow. Wayne was an American who came to live in Westport and married Kitty O'Malley, Chieftain No 43. In Celtic mythology, the holly tree (Cuileann) is a highly sacred, evergreen symbol of protection, peace, and the winter solstice. Wayne chose a five foot length of holly wood, two inches in diameter, and carved it most artistically with designs. On top there are are two O'Malley boars confronting each other, and below them the name Ó Máille is executed in raised lettering along the length of the staff. Below there is a celtic ornament with a horse on one side and a galley on the other - elements taken from the O'Malley coat of arms.
Sculptor and artist Wayne Harlow