Eileen O'Malley
Profession and company: Operations Manager, University of Pittsburgh Press and Castle Shannon Borough Tax Collector
How do you celebrate your Irishness? I am very active in the LAOH and the Irish community. We march as a family in the St, Patrick's Day Parade each year in Pittsburgh. I have held many offices in the LAOH and was even co-chair of the AOH--LAOH National Convention in Pittsburgh. I have served and continue to serve on many committees in the Irish community.
Name a hero you admire and why? My hero is my father. He taught us to be kind and to never look down upon anyone. I remember him saying "everyone is the same from the janitor to the CEO and they all deserve your respect". He taught us all about our Irish heritage and took all of us on a trip to Ireland to meet our relatives. He was a good husband, father and grandfather. He had a fabulous sense of humor and there was always laughter in our house. I feel that I wouldn't be who I am today without his love and guidance.
Something people would be surprised to know about me... I am so organized that I label my labels.
Biography: I am the fourth of five children born to Thomas and Kathleen Jean O'Malley. My parents were very active in the Irish Community so we grew up knowing about our heritage and attending Irish events from when we were little. My Mother held offices at the Division, County and State Offices. My Father was one of the founders of his Division and was the Hibernian of the year in 1999 and Grand Marshall of the 2000 St. Patrick's Day parade. My grandfather Thomas as born in Carraroe, Connemara and my grandmother was born in Spiddal, County Galway. I am currently the Director of the Claddagh Degree team and hold offices at the Division and County levels. I have served on many Irish committees in Pittsburgh and was the co-chair of the 2022 AOH-LAOH National Convention held in Pittsburgh. I am the Democratic Chair in Castle Shannon and the Tax Collector for the Borough of Castle Shannon and Keystone Oaks School District. I have been to Ireland six times to visit my family that still lives there. My involvement in the Irish community is not just for me to learn more about my ancestors, but to pass our culture on to the next generation.
