The O’Malley Brothers from Lavalley
Michael O’Malley from Lavalley, Ballinrobe, was one of the volunteers who took part in the Tourmakeady Ambush and the battle up in the Partry Mountains afterwards . He was directly beside Michael O’Brien when he was shot dead by Lieutenant Ibberson on the mountain in Túr na bhFód.
These brave men rarely spoke of what they went through and achieved but in 1969 Michael did talk vividly to his relation Luke O’Malley (Lavalley) about the events in Tourmakeady on May 3rd 1921. The reprinted new version of Micheál Lally’s book ‘The Tan War, Ballyovey’ will have further detail from Luke on Michael O’Malley’s account of the Ambush and its aftermath. It will be available in book shops later this summer. The colorized picture below is of Michael O'Malley and his brother Séamus, in 1925 before Michael emigrated to Chicago.
Michael O’Malley (right) with his brother Séamus in 1925
Séamus O’Malley was active in the Civil War on the Anti-Treaty side. Séamus would be the first man to bring the elusive Sam Maguire Trophy back to Mayo as Captain of the immortal 1936 All-Ireland winning team (pictured below).
1936 All-Ireland winning Mayo team, captained by Séamus O’Malley
Tommy O’Malley from Glebe Street, Ballinrobe is a close relation to Michael and Séamus O’Malley. Tommy inherited some of Séamus’s football talent, Tommy played for Mayo for most of the 1970’s. Tommy met Michael and Anne in 1970 while on a Mayo football tour. Anne never lost her Irish accent and Michael never spoke about the ambush (pictured below with Anne)
Michael O’Malley and his wife Anne (nee Garry) from Partry, in the 1960’s
Two of Michael & Anne’s sons joined the priesthood, Fr. Jim And Fr. Jack O’Malley SJ. Stationed in Japan for decades, the late Fr. Jack O'Malley SJ was presented with a copy of ‘The Tan War, Ballyovey’ by his nephew, Louis O'Malley at a special function held for the Jesuit on a return visit to his native Chicago in 2016. Fr Jack died in Japan in the past year.
Fr. Jack O'Malley SJ being presented with a copy of ‘The Tan War, Ballyovey’ by his nephew, Louis O'Malley in 2016