Eileen O’Malley (neé Kenny)

Eileen was born on the 23rd of July 1941 in Droum, Glenbeigh, Co Kerry, the youngest of nine children. Her mother was Mary Esther O’Connor from Droum and her father John Kenny was from Kilkelly, Co Mayo. Sadly Eileen’s father passed away from heart complications when she was only seven years old.

Eileen went to primary school in Glenbeigh and then for a short time went to secondary school in Killorglin.  After her formal education ended Eileen decided to spread her wings and the first stop was Killarney where she worked in Scotts Hotel following in the footsteps of her sister Kathleen who had recently gotten married. She would make the beds, clean and even occasionally provide cover behind the bar where she was popular as she enjoyed having the craic with all the local characters. Eileen had fond memories of her time in Killarney.

In 1960 she headed stateside to the Windy City of Chicago, this time following her sister Madge. After they first arrived they lived with their Aunt Marie O’Connor and Eileen got a job as a waitress in Stouffers restaurant in downtown Chicago. It was a good place to work and she was one of many Irish waitresses there, they worked hard but they had fun as well. To make a good wage you had to earn your ‘’tips’, if you provided a good prompt, mannerly service you did well and Eileen did well, she was a people person and was often asked for by returning customers.

At the weekends Eileen and Madge would get their hair done, go shopping for new clothes and head for the dances on a Saturday night. The Irish in Chicago would head for the Blarney Club on 79th Street, it was there in 1962 that she would meet a young man called Pete O’Malley from Thallabawn near Louisburgh, Co Mayo and the rest is history.  

Eileen and Pete were married on the 28 November 1964 and one year to the day later they had their first child, Tom, followed over the next few years by Bernie, Peter and Erin.  In the late 70’s they decided to return to Ireland to rear their young family. They packed their bags, moved back and built their new home in Belclare just a couple of miles outside Westport and with a lovely view of the reek. Eileen minded the home as a mother would do, the kids were clothed fed watered and sent to school, maybe even driven to school, sometimes with a few of the neighbours’ kids and anyone else she might meet on the road heading into town as well, some say Eileen was Belclare’s first taxi!  

As the years went by emigration hit the O’Malley home, as it did many a house in Ireland during the 80s, bringing some very difficult times. However, by the mid-nineties the home was alive again with family returned home from abroad and a few new arrivals too. In 1997 Eileen became a grandmother for the first time but it wasn’t easy, she had to spend a few weeks in Castlebar Hospital trying to convince Bernie that she really wanted to be a Granny.  Eventually Stephen was born and Eileen would also be his Godmother.  In 2002 a second Grandson, James, was born but there was to be no need for Eileen to convince Bernie on this occasion.    

In the early 90’s Eileen’s niece, Anna, moved from London with her husband and young family to Cong, Co Mayo.   Anna and Eileen resembled each other and were often passed off as sisters. Over the years they spent a lot of time together and had very happy times in each other’s company.  Eileen was honoured to become a Godmother to Anna’s youngest daughter, Michaela.   Anna was particularly caring and helpful to Eileen in her later years, right up until she passed away.

Eileen’s eldest son, Tom, got married in 2005. She was delighted and even decided to get up and speak at the wedding reception, telling everyone what a trouble free child Tom was. Eileen painted Tom in a very positive light that day as only a mother could.

In recent weeks a lot of stories have come forth - Eileen the taxi driver, the popcorn maker, the joker, the singer, the proud Kerry woman. The one thing that stood out in all these stories is that anyone that met her enjoyed her company. Eileen enjoyed life but always in a humble sort of way, she always looked at both sides of the coin, she was genuine, warm, thoughtful, musical and extremely funny at times.  She was courteous and mannerly and, above all else, a very generous person.    Eileen has now lived her life but her memory will live on, she loved the craic, a drink and a song but, above all, she loved her family.  

Remember me when you are blue,

Remember me when there’s no one is holding you,

Any time you feel like you can’t make it through,

Remember me and I will be with you.         

Eileen left this world on 19 October 2015 in the company of her husband, her children and her niece Anna.   She was predeceased by her parents Mary Esther and John Kenny, her brothers Michael, Paud, Jackie, Billy, Tadgh, Jim and her sister, Kathleen Sweeney.

She is sadly missed by her loving husband Pete, sons Tom and Peter, daughters Bernie and Erin, son-in-law Tommy Roache (Bohea), her grandchildren Stephen and James Roache, daughter-in-law Ursula O’Malley (Killyclogher), sister Madge Garvey (Dingle), sister-in-law Mary Kenny (London) brothers-in-law SeΡn Garvey (Dingle), Tom O’Malley (killsallagh), Joe O’Malley (Gloucester), her godchild Michaela Conroy and all of her nephews, nieces and relatives around the world.

May she rest in peace.