James O Malley

James O Malley and many other young men were in the Galway Jail since the 11th February 1923. They faced trial in the jail before Free State Officers on the 10th April 1923. They were sentenced to die before a firing squad. The six young men were:

Francis Cunnane, Kilcoona, Headford

Michael Monaghan, Clooneen, Headford

John Newell, Wineforth, Headford

John Maguire, Cross, Cong

Martin Moylan, Farmerstown, Annaghdown

James O’Malley, Bridge Street, Oughterard.

On the evening of the 10th April 1923 the six men were taken to the Workhouse in Tuam which was occupied by the Free State Army, and were executed the next morning at 8a.m. the 11th April. They were buried within the Workhouse.

The Free state Army vacated the Workhouse towards the end of 1923. They refused to return the bodies to the families. They were exhumed and buried in the Army Barracks in Athlone. They remained there until the 28th October 1924 when the bodies were returned to their families.

James O’ Malley was buried in the Republican Plot in Kilcummin Cemetery, his final resting place on the 29th October 1924. The local G.A.A. Club, Cumann Péile Séamus Ó Máille is named in his honour.