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The O'Malley clan

Published Monday, September 14, 2009, 4:36 PM
Updated Monday, September 14, 2009, 5:08 PM
Read more: Desmond Joseph O'Malley, Ireland, Martin O'Malley


Bing Crosby as Father Chuck O'Malley in "Going My Way"
Bing Crosby as Father Chuck O'Malley in "Going My Way"

The ancient O'Maille or O'Malley name is said to be derived from the Gaelic words "maille" meaning gentle or smooth, and "maglios" meaning chieftain, which is fitting as the O'Malleys were once the chieftains of the baronies of Murrisk and Burrishoole in County Mayo.

On today's political scene, Martin O'Malley (D.) served as the hugely popular Mayor of Baltimore for two terms, before being elected Governor of Maryland on November 7, 2006.

Martin wasn't the first O'Malley in politics. U.S. Representative Thomas O'Malley represented Wisconsin in the early 1930s, and prior to that, Edwin Joseph O'Malley (1881-1953), born in the Bronx, was a ward boss for Tammany Hall, and served as the Commissioner of Public Markets in New York City.

A statue of "The Pirate Queen" Grace O'Malley
A statue of "The Pirate Queen" Grace O'Malley

Edwin's son, Walter Francis O'Malley, after his family lost its money in the Wall Street Crash of 1929, attended Fordham University at night. Hired by the Brooklyn Dodgers as an attorney, he eventually became the president and chief stockholder of the team. And in a move that turned out to be very successful, but at the time enraged millions of Brooklynites, he moved the team to Los Angeles.

Walter turned over the Dodgers presidency to his son Peter in 1970. Peter held the position until 1998, when the team was sold to Rupert Murdoch. In 2004, Boston businessman Frank McCourt bought the team for a reported $371 million.

Actor Mike O'Malley
Actor Mike O'Malley

Peter has made major contributions to the U.S. Little League program, baseball's acceptance as an Olympic sport, and the promotion of baseball globally, particularly in Latin America and Japan, and Ireland, where he built a number of baseball fields and a Little League field.

Another O'Malley who went far afield was King O'Malley (1858-1953). King left the U.S. and moved to Australia after contracting TB. He recovered, and was eventually elected to the Australian House of Assembly.

As the Minister for Home Affairs, O'Malley helped select the site of Australia's capital city, Canberra. When O'Malley died in Melbourne at the age of 95, he was the last surviving member of the first Australian Parliament.

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Posted by starpen7 on Nov 15, 2009, 05:24 PM EST
hink its great I just found it. I am researching mi irish fore fathers and I have found on my fathers side the Omalleys although in England the family name seems to have been changed to Meile ir Melia I am seeking Darby Melia who is my great grenfather. My mother also had Irish parents by the name of Donnelly. I am hoping for great results from these pages Thank you






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