James Patrick Maloney (1925 – 1950)

(24th August 1925 – 29th June 1950)

Jimmy Maloney, Óstán Shliabh Liag , An Charraig, was the youngest of a family of seven. As a young boy, Mrs Doherty from Killybegs taught him how to play the piano. Jimmy was talented and progressed to playing the clarinet and small piano accordion and took part in Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas in Saint Eunan’s College in Letterkenny. He was also a great admirer of local fiddle players and was in demand for playing at house dances in the area of An Charraig. A Teileann man who returned from England with a large piano accordion, recognised Jimmy’s potential as a good player and sold it to him. Jimmy developed ill health while studying engineering in University College Galway. He died on Lá Mór Theilinn, the 29 th June 1950, aged 25, the feast day of Saints Peter and Paul, while on his way to mass in An Charraig.