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Sunday World
07-05-2025
- General
- Sunday World
Tributes paid as popular Mayo man who died after car entered water named locally
Locals in Mayo said that Charles O'Malley was a ''thorough gentleman'' who welcomed everyone to the island The death of well-known Clare Island ferry operator Charles O'Malley in an accident has been met with profound shock and sadness in his native Mayo. Mr O'Malley (88) lost his life when his vehicle entered the water at Glen, on Clare Island, on Tuesday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to Mayo University Hospital, where a post mortem examination was due to take place. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses but are said to be treating the matter as a tragic accident. The 88-year-old from Strake on Clare Island was the proprietor of O'Malley Ferries and through his business activities was among the best known personalities in his native island. Paying tribute to Mr O'Malley, Councillor Chris Maxwell described him as 'a pillar of the Clare Island community'. 'Charles was salt of the earth, a gentleman,' he said. 'People are devastated by this news. He was just a lovely man who had a kind word for everyone he met. 'He was a man of the sea and I used to love to hear his wonderful stories. He was a great businessman and a hard worker all his life. He built up that business to what it is. 'He was a wonderful seaman and a tremendous storyteller. He was a great friend of our family and I always loved his company. 'He has a lovely family and he doted on them all. He loved his wife Pauline. 'He was active in his business until the end. He stepped back a little bit in the last few years but he was in good health. 'It's just so sad for his life to end in the way it did at his age. 'Everybody would have known Charles and his death is very shocking.' Charles O'Malley The News in 90 Seconds - Wednesday, 7th of May Among those to pay their respects was Fr Denis Carney of Ballinrobe. 'Sincere sympathy to Pauline and family on the sudden death of Charles,' he said. 'I have many happy memories of him bringing me to and from Inishturk. 'He was a great man to chat and tell a story. We also worked together as trustees of the water scheme. 'He served the priests of the parish very well over many years and I know he was delighted when he was presented with the Bene Merenti medal from the Pope for his years of service. May he rest in eternal peace.' Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘Thorough gentleman', 88, who died after car entered water in Mayo island accident ‘remembered with love' by family
TRIBUTES have been paid to a man who died after his car entered the water at Clare Island in Co Mayo on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased has been named locally as Charles O'Malley, 88, better known as Charles Gerry, of Strake, Advertisement 1 Charles O'Malley, better known as Charles Gerry, sadly lost his life this week Credit: A Garda spokesperson said: 'A car entered the water at approximately 1pm on Tuesday May 6 and the driver, a man aged in his 80s, was pronounced deceased at the scene." Locals said that Mr O'Malley was a ''thorough gentleman'' who welcomed everyone to the island. He was a great fan of country music and was also very good to visiting priests. Advertisement Read more in News Paying tribute, family friend Fr Patrick Mullins, from Tuam, Co "A great loss to his family and Clare Island." Another family friend, Fr Denis Craney from Ballinrobe, Co Mayo, said: "He was a great man to chat and tell a story. "We also worked together as trustees of the water scheme. Advertisement Most read in Irish News "He served the priests of the parish very well over many years and I know he was delighted when he was presented with the Bene Merenti medal from the Pope for his years of service. "May he rest in eternal peace." 'SADLY MISSED' Mr O'Malley is survived by his wife Pauline, daughters Bernie, Maria and Cathriona and sons Charles and Gerard. His death notice on notes he is "sadly missed and remembered with love". Advertisement He will rest in repose at Sweeney's Funeral Home in Louisburgh on Thursday from 5pm, before concluding with vigil prayers at 7pm. This will be followed by removal to his home via Roonagh Pier, where Charles will travel home on his own boat, the 'Tormore', and will repose in Strake from 9:30pm on Thursday night. His funeral mass will take place at 1pm at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Clare Island, and will be followed by interment in the adjoining cemetery. INFORMATION APPEAL Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station. Advertisement Clare Island, which is just south of Achill Island, has a small population of around 138 people, according to a census from three years ago. It is however, the largest of the Mayo offshore islands at 8km long and 5km wide. The island can be reached by a passenger only ferry from Roonagh Pier in Co Mayo.
Irish Independent
07-05-2025
- General
- Irish Independent
Clare Island community in shock after death of local ferry operator Charles O'Malley (88) after car enters water
Mr O'Malley (88) lost his life when his vehicle entered the water at Glen, on Clare Island, on Tuesday afternoon. He was pronounced dead at the scene and his body was removed to Mayo University Hospital, where a post mortem examination was due to take place. Gardaí have appealed for witnesses but are said to be treating the matter as a tragic accident. The 88-year-old from Strake on Clare Island was the proprietor of O'Malley Ferries and through his business activities was among the best known personalities in his native island. Paying tribute to Mr O'Malley, Councillor Chris Maxwell described him as 'a pillar of the Clare Island community'. 'Charles was salt of the earth, a gentleman,' he said. 'People are devastated by this news. He was just a lovely man who had a kind word for everyone he met. 'He was a man of the sea and I used to love to hear his wonderful stories. He was a great businessman and a hard worker all his life. He built up that business to what it is. 'He was a wonderful seaman and a tremendous storyteller. He was a great friend of our family and I always loved his company. 'He has a lovely family and he doted on them all. He loved his wife Pauline. ADVERTISEMENT 'He was active in his business until the end. He stepped back a little bit in the last few years but he was in good health. 'It's just so sad for his life to end in the way it did at his age. 'Everybody would have known Charles and his death is very shocking.' Among those to pay their respects was Fr Denis Carney of Ballinrobe. 'Sincere sympathy to Pauline and family on the sudden death of Charles,' he said. 'I have many happy memories of him bringing me to and from Inishturk. 'He was a great man to chat and tell a story. We also worked together as trustees of the water scheme. 'He served the priests of the parish very well over many years and I know he was delighted when he was presented with the Bene Merenti medal from the Pope for his years of service. May he rest in eternal peace.' Anyone with any information is asked to contact Westport Garda Station on 098 50230, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.
