Background
Conor O'Malley was born in Joyce County in Connemara, in County Galway, Ireland.
Conor O'Malley was born in Joyce County in Connemara, in County Galway, Ireland.
He graduated in Medicine from University College Galway, UCG in 1917. In 1927 he visited to India where he studied the then novel method of intra-capsular cataract extraction cataracts under Dr Mathra Das Pawha.
His first appointment being Surgeon Lt. on HMS Furious, and later with the Royal Air Force during World War 1. He undertook postgraduate training in Ophthalmology in Moorfields Hospital, London. In the 1920s he began his civilian medical practice in Gort, County Galway. at Moga Clinic in the Punjab.
Dr O'Malley provided a report of 220 intra-capsular cataract operations he undertook when in Moga. This clinical audit was published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology in March 1931. In 1931 he was appointed Professor of Ophthalmology and Otology in UCG in Galway.
He undertook clinical practice at the former Central Hospital, Galway (later termed the Regional Hospital Galway) and now known as University College Hospital Galway. Conor O'Malley's professional publications in Ophthalmology were written while he was at UCG. He undertook private practice from his consulting rooms at No 6, The Crescent, Galway and St Bride's Nursing, Sea Road, Galway. Conor and Sal O'Malley had 3 daughters (Grace O' Hara, Joan Ringrose and Ann Kelly).
Both became leading Ophthalmologists in the USA and contributed technical developments in retinal (O'Malley Xenon Photocoagulator) and vitreous surgery (Ocutome Vitrector). A grandson Simon P Kelly (1956-) also graduated in Medicine from UCG and is an Ophthalmic Surgeon and Retinal Specialist at the Royal Bolton Hospital, England. A nephew, Ronal E O'Malley also graduated in Medicine from UCG and is an Ophthalmic Surgeon and Retinal Specialist in Houston, Texas, USA. In his retirement, Conor O'Malley became absorbed in the history of the Ó Máille clan, and such of its figures as Gráinne Ní Mháille (c 1530 – c 1603).
He was elected Chief of the O'Malley's, and became a Guardian Chief, a lifetime honour. He was a keen golfer and fresh water angler and published a much loved book: 'With a Fishing Rod in Ireland' in 1976.
He was a member of the Kilmilkin O'Malley family.