William O'Malley (politician)
Irish journalist and politician
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William O'Malley (circa February 1853 – September 1939) was an Irish journalist, sportsman, and politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Galway Connemara from 1895 to 1918.[1]
William O'Malley | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Galway Connemara | |
| In office 1895–1918 | |
| Preceded by | Patrick James Foley |
| Succeeded by | Pádraic Ó Máille |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. February 1853 |
| Died | 1939 (aged 85–86) |
Life
O'Malley was born at Ballyconneely, near Clifden, Ireland. He was educated at the Model School, Galway and at St Mary's teacher training college, Hammersmith, London.[1]
He was a journalist and business manager of newspapers.[2] He married Mary O'Connor in 1886, becoming brother-in-law to T. P. O'Connor. She was a Nationalist activist, who spoke at Land League meetings in the 1880s and was imprisoned for six months.[3] One of their sons was killed in action in the First World War.[4]
At the 1895 general election, O'Malley stood for as an Anti-Parnellite Irish National Federation candidate to succeed Patrick James Foley the MP Galway Connemara in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. He was elected unopposed,[5] and was re-elected unopposed as a member of the Irish Parliamentary Party in 1900, 1906, and January and December 1910.[5] He resided in England throughout his parliamentary career, returning to Ireland in 1921.[6]
O'Malley criticised the ITGWU during the Dublin Lockout as engaging in "despotism", while describing Jim Larkin as a "wild egotistical fanatic".[7] In 1918, standing again with the IPP, O'Malley lost to Pádraic Ó Máille of Sinn Féin, winning only 23% of the vote.[5]
His involvement in dubious speculative business ventures was widely criticised.[8]
He died in September 1939, aged 86.
Publication
- William O'Malley, Glancing Back (memoirs), London, 1933
