Chieftain of the O’Malley Clan Professor Tom O’Malley is delighted to announce the programme for the 66th Annual O’Malley Gathering in Mayo this year.
He stated: "We warmly welcome all O’Malleys, Mealeys, O Mailles and other variants of our name, together with their families and friends, to join us for a convivial weekend of fun, history and sharing our heritage. We already have bookings from as far afield as Australia and California and we look forward to hosting many of our international cousins."
The Gathering will be launched by Chieftain Tom at the Town Hall Theatre, Westport, on Friday afternoon, June 24, followed by updates on genealogy and the other clan projects.
The award-winning Professor Padraig O’Malley of the University of Massachusetts is the subject of the film ‘The Peacemaker’ which will precede a conversation with Professor O’Malley and former Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
On Saturday, there is a bus tour, an afternoon genealogy session and the Chieftain’s Reception and Dinner in Hotel Newport, followed by entertainment from renowned singer Sean Keane with musicians Stephen Doherty and the Doocey brothers.
The Annual General Meeting of the Clan will be at Hotel Newport on Sunday morning, followed by the traditional Clan Mass at Burrishoole Abbey and a photoshoot at Carrigahowley Castle. The Clan lunch at Nevin’s of Tiernaur will be the venue for the formal inauguration of the new Chieftain of the Clan, Governor Martin O’Malley of Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Even though most events are free, booking is essential for attendance at all the events and is available at https://www.ireland101.com/booking/book/omalley This is the only source of tickets. The organisers appeal to everyone, particularly local O’Malleys, to book early and be sure of your place.
Chieftain Tom went on to say: “The O’Malley Clan Association was founded in 1949 to restore Carrigahowley Castle, a former stronghold of Pirate Queen Grace O’Malley, also fondly known as Granuaile. Its inaugural gathering at the restored castle in 1953 has been followed by annual gatherings ever since, except for our online gatherings in 2020 and 2021. The 2022 Gathering is the first in person since Limerick’s Gathering in 2019. I look forward to welcoming O’Malleys from Ireland and from around the world, to Newport, County Mayo, on the weekend of June 24 to 26.”
