Poor George! Castlebar Statue in need of 'TLC'!

Recently in Christ Church Castlebar we were delighted to host a thoroughly engaging lecture by Dr Michael O’Connor to mark the 200th anniversary of the decision of the Select Vestry to rebuild Christ Church, Castlebar. How glad we — the present congregation and vestry —  are that the parishioners and vestry of that time had the foresight and courage to agree that decision and to follow through on it! 

At the end of the lecture there was a short Questions and Answers session which revealed a lively interest in this special church building and its history, and also in the statue which stands within the railings and which gazes steadily across the junction and traffic passing by the Mall and the church. This statue is regularly referred to by at least a few townspeople as ‘Poor George!’ - this on account of the poor state of repair of the statue in his likeness. And it seems that the reason for ‘his’ decline is not so much the likely cost of restoration but the scarcity of stonemasons and craftspeople to take on the task. However, as the saying goes, “Where there’s a will there’s a way”, and perhaps ‘our George’ is soon to find some 21st century friends! 

George, that is, George O’ Malley, was far from poor in his day, nor, I imagine, would he have sought the sympathy belying such a title (‘Poor George’), for he was a man of considerable strength and influence, who made a name for himself primarily through his illustrious military career. This is detailed in the biography that follows, written by Mr Simon Harrison, who with his wife Jayne, visited Castlebar to view the statue in the week following Dr O'Connor's 13 February lecture. Mr Harrison's article is shared with permission and thanks.

MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE O’MALLEY CB b.1780 d.1843

by Mr Simon Harrison

GEORGE O’MALLEY born 1st January 1780

Son of George O’Malley and his wife Elizabeth Clarke. He had two

younger siblings Elizabeth and James. The O’Malley’s were a well to do,

aristocratic familily lived at Ballinvilla, Castlebar, Co.Roscommon.

Descendants of Grainne Mhaol (Granuaile) aka Grace O’Malley (c.1530

- c.1603) and Owen O’Malley of Burrishoole (c.1650 - 1738).

George comes to notoriety in 1798 aged 18 when he joins as a

volunteer, the Yeomanry Cavalry Corps of Castlebar, the day before the

town was attacked by the French under General Humbert on 27th

August 1798. George was elected to lead the corps there being no

other officer, which he did, joining Lord Cornwallis’ Army which had

arrived in the area. Castlebar was not defended and the French passed

through, after which George was ordered to return and secure the town.

A fortnight later a strong rebel force aided with some French Officers

were defeated by the Yeomanry Corps and a company of Frazier

Fencibles. George was confirmed as a Lieutenant in the Castlebar

Yeomanry by Lord Cornwallis in recognition of his services.

A cracking start to his Military career.

Soon after he joined the North Mayo Militia, from which he brought

volunteers to the 13th Regiment of Foot (1st Somersetshire), when he

joined as Ensign on 23rd February 1800. He served at Ferrol and in

Egypt, where he was wounded in action on 13th March 1801, and

afterwards at Malta and Gibraltar. He returned to Ireland a Lieutenant,

and for his success in further recruiting he received a Company in the

new 2nd Battalion of the 89th Regiment of Foot (Princess Victoria’s),

and the rank of Captain on 25th April 1805. He served with the 89th

until Colonel Henry Dillon raised the 101st Regiment of Foot (Duke of

York’s Irish), appointed him Major, 21st August 1806, in recognition

again of his material assistance in forming the Regiment. George served

with the Regiment in Ireland, Jersey the United States and West Indies.

He commanded the Regiment in Jamaica, obtaining the rank of brevit

Lt.Col on 4th June 1813.

On 27th April 1815, after repeated applications to join the Army of the

Duke of Wellington, prompted by Bonaparts return to France he was

appointed Major of the 2nd battalion of the 44th Regiment of Foot (East

Essex), which he commanded in Sir Thomas Picton’s divison at Quatre

Bras and Waterloo. They suffered very severely in these actions, George

was twice wounded in the action of 18th June and did not quit the field

or the command of the 2/44th, also having two horses shot under him.

He was appointed brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 18th June 1815. He

continued in France with the 44th till January 1816 when he returned to

England. For his conduct at Waterloo he was confirmed a Lieutenant

Colonel and appointed CB (Companion of the Order of the Bath).

James O’Malley, Georges younger brother also served at Waterloo, as

Surgeon of the 11th Regiment of Light Dragoons.

On 12th August 1819 he was appointed Major in the 38th Regiment of

Foot (1st Staffordshire) and garrison duties followed in the West Indies

and the British protectorate of the Ionian Islands.

On 2nd June 1825 he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel and took

command of the 88th Regiment of Foot (Connaught Rangers) on 10th

August 1825. The following month receiving orders for the

Mediteranean. The 88th embarked by divisions at Cork from October

and proceeded to the Island of Corfu in the Ionian Islands, with the last

division arriving on 27th January 1826.

[Photo missing]

“The Principal Knot of Corfu, or the Ionian Islands, of the Ancient and Most Benevolent Order of the Friendly Brothers of St.Patrick was established by a grant of Patent from Grand Knot, Dublin dated 17th August 1826 to Perfect Brother Lieutenant Colonel George O’Malley of the 38th Regiment of Foot.”

George had been admitted to the Order in the County Dublin Knot,

probably between 1803-05, was made Perfect in 1820 when he was

indeed of the 38th, and on 17th March 1827 conveened the first

meeting of the Ionian Knot as its President, as well as being the

commanding officer of the 88th. The Knot continued to meet on a

regular basis until 17th March 1836 when it was disolved, as the 88th

and other Regiments were posted to various stations including Gibraltar

and the West Indies.

Lieutenant Colonel George O’Malley maintained his reputation of

commanding a tight well disciplined Regiment of the highest order over

the coming years. Several detachments to the other Islands within the

Protectorate, in particular Ithaca, Cerigo, Santa Maura and Cephalonia.

he was made brevit Colonel in 1831. Of interest to us he was

instumental in the Connaught Rangers retaining the use of the device of

Harp and Crown and the moto “Quis seperabit” which had been incommon use for most of its existance but never officially authorised -

and it was authorised officially for the new Colours which were

presented to the Regiment at Corfu on 27th February 1834. The

Connaught Rangers left Corfu and the Ionian Islands on 29th July 1836.

Colonel O’Malley commanded the Regiment until promoted Major-

General on 23rd November 1841.

He died aged 63 in London on 16th May 1843, and was intered in the

family burial place at Murrisk Abbey, Westport, Co.Mayo.

A statue of Major General George O’Malley is located at Christchurch,

Castlebar, sadly now an a state of some disrepair. In addition to the

basic details the inscription on the plinth continues:

“This statue erected by a numerous circle of his naval, military and civil

friends among whom are the members of the Friendly Brothers of Saint

Patrick as a small tribute of their esteem and affection. He served his

country in Egypt, North Americas, the West Indies, the Mediterranean

and he commanded the 2nd battalion of the 44th Regiment at Waterloo

where he was twice wounded and subsequently for many years

commanded the 88th Regiment, Connaught Rangers. He was a good

and pious Christian, a zealous and excellent soldier and sincere and

firm friend.”

A Portrait of George O’Malley, commisioned by the Members of the

Ionian Knot around 1835, now hangs in the Ballyedmond Room in the

Kildare Street and University Club, on St.Stephens Green, Dublin.

There is another in the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The Ionian Knot remained in abeyance for 161 years, until its revival by

grant of the swcond Patent from Grand knot to The O’Morchoe on 14th

November 1997. It is designated a non-territorial, traveling Knot, styled

The Ionian Knot, for the purpose of assisting in the formation of new

Knots or the revival of extinct Knots. At rhe first meeting of the revived

Knot it was agreed that the toast “George friendly O’Malley” should be

honoured at all future meetings."