O'Malley Clan Pipers

Pipers Sean and Eoin O'Malley leading the procession of Chieftains into Mass 2003

An O'Malley Clan Gathering would not be complete without one or more pipers. Over the years, we have been fortunate to have several pipers to add to our ceremonial occasions - piping the procession of Chieftains into and out of the Clan mass and into the Clan lunch.  Two of them, Michael and Eoin have been Chieftains themselves. 

Piper Eoin O'Malley leading the procession to Murrisk Abbey

Pipers Chris Burt, Michael O'Malley and Eoin O'Malley at Balintubber Abbey

Piper Martin Mckay

Pipe Major Michael O'Malley

Among the pipers have been:

Pipe Major Michael O'Malley, a native of Baliintubber, Co Mayo. He served as a seaman in World War II and settled in London, where he was a long time member of the London Irish Band. He was a three-time All-Ireland war pipe champion.

Pipe Major Ailean Nicholson 

Pipe Major Chris Burt, from Hertfordshire, UK

Pipe Major Rory Summers from Dublin

Eoin O'Malley of Swinford, Co Mayo. First played at the 1989 Rally, with Michael O'Malley. Thereafter, he hardly missed a year 

Sean O'Malley of Virginia first piped at the 2000 O'Malley Clan Gathering and was invited back to play at Eoin's rally the following year. There he met Eoin's daughter Siobhan and they later married. Sean has played at multiple O'Malley Clan Gatherings since then.

Piper Martin McKay from Scotland played at the Gathering in 2024. An in-law of Chieftain Nano McMahon, Piper Mckay was taught by the very best Scots Guards Pipe Majors as well as numerous distinguished Pipers including twice World Piping champion, Roddy McLeod MBE. He received a distinction for Piping from the official Piping school of Scotland. 

Piper Rúirí O'Neill played at the 2026 Gathering in Ennis.

Pipers Chris Burt, Michael O'Malley and Rory Summers with Canon Eamon O'Malley

Pipers Eoin O'Malley and Rory Summers

Piper Sean O'Malley in 2003