Born at Kilmilken, Maam Valley, Co Galway he was a member of a large family, five of whom entered the medical profession, one being J F O'Malley FRCS, ear nose and throat surgeon at St John and St Elizabeth's Hospital. He was educated at Rockwell College and, for his medical studies, at Queen's College, Galway qualifying in 1910, having gained several academic distinctions. After a residency at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, he went to London and was a demonstrator of anatomy at the Middlesex Hospital, and later house surgeon to Sir Peter Freyer at St Peter's Hospital. In 1915 he was appointed assistant to Professor Pye in the Anatomy Department of University College, Galway, and consulting surgeon to Galway Infirmary. Later he became consulting surgeon at Galway Central Hospital, which was enlarged to become Galway Regional Hospital, until his retirement in 1956. He held the position of Professor of Surgery at University College from 1924 to 1956. He was widely travelled and deeply interested in medical education, having a great influence on the Galway Medical School and being instrumental in raising a research fund subscribed to by many local business firms. A popular golfer, he was President of the Golfing Union of Ireland and for many years of the Galway Golf Club. An enthusiastic and expert bridge player, he was President of an International Bridge Congress in Galway in 1954. In 1916 he married Christina Ryan BA of Tomcoole, Co Wexford and they had seven children, one of whom Eoin O'Malley MCh, FRCSI is Professor of Surgery in Dublin and another a radiologist in Canada. He died on 11 October 1961 in his seventy-fifth year after a short illness.