Otherwise
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs.
A noted Artist and Sculptor.
She married Ernie O'Malley in London on 27 September 1935.
They had three children.
They separated in 1950, and were divorced in 1952.
She married Richard Roelofs in 1956. He died in 1971.
An appreciation was published in The Irish Times on Thursday 22 April 1993.
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs, 1905-1993
---------------------------------------
The passing of Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs in Greenwich, Connecticut, on April 2nd brought to a close an ardent love affair with Ireland. This began when she first set eyes on Ernie O'Malley, former revolutionary leader, in her mother's dining room in Greenwich. It survived their tempestuous marriage, retaining its passion and intensity to the end of her long life, as indeed did her admiration and respect for her first husband. In speaking of him and Ireland, her impeccable Yankee accent took on a faint but perceptible Irish lilt. Hers was a life packed with activity - and hard work. Avid for knowledge of the world in all its diversity, she managed to cram into her life the experiences of ten less energetic mortals but with a heart and ear ever open to the still, sad music of humanity.
Her gifts were many, but they were used with discretion. Her talent for poetry she particularly developed in her latter years. That for sculpture was evident at the age of six, when she modelled in clay a young rabbit almost pulsating with fear. To a family which had more conventional plans for her future, this should have been a warning that art would win out over more socially acceptable talents.
Another of these was sport. By the age of eighteen she was one of the most accomplised young tennis players in the United States, winning the national ladies' junior singles and doubles in 1923. Wimbledon beckoned, with her father's enthusiastic support. But Helen put her foot down, insisting that she had more important goals. Tennis was abandoned; she was to concentrate on art thereafter. Extensive travels in Europe, including the study of dance in Greece, woodcarving in Germany, sculpture in Paris, were followed by stays in Japan, China and Korea. And then, eventually, to Ireland.
Aristocratic, imperious, passionate, highly intelligent, proud of the family from which she came and its important role in the creation and development of her home state of Connecticut, she moved as surefootedly among all strata of Irish society as among the old WASP families in which she grew up. Her years in Ireland saw the creation of her home and gardens at Burrishoole Lodge on Clew Bay, where the world she brought into being enchanted an ever-increasing circle of her own as well as her husband's friends. Later in Dublin, she helped to found the Player's Theatre. During these Irish years she sculpted many of the country's leading literary, musical and theatrical personalities, as well as civil servants, politicians and anyone she met whose ideas and character she found stimulating. She loved Ireland's traditions, its old churches and abbeys and the vivacity of its people. Out of this love came some of her best work.
Also out of this came her gifts to Ireland which, with the creative partnership of the Irish American Cultural Institute, have resulted in the O'Malley Art Collection, now in the Irish Museum of Modern Art at Kilmainham, and at Turlough House in Co. Mayo, and the annual O'Malley Art Award, initiated in 1989. In addition, she gave a collection of her photographs to the National Library. Her sculpture of Irish heads, the Helen O'Malley Roelofs Sculpture Trust Collection, will be on permanent exhibition at the University of Limerick from September this year.
All of these generous gifts have been made with the help and encouragement of her three children, Cahal, Etain and Cormac O'Malley. That in her last year all three were living in New York, and able to see her frequently was a great comfort to them and to her. To them sympathy is extended at the passing of this comet out of their firmanent. To her - "may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
P.F.D.
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs.
A noted Artist and Sculptor.
She married Ernie O'Malley in London on 27 September 1935.
They had three children.
They separated in 1950, and were divorced in 1952.
She married Richard Roelofs in 1956. He died in 1971.
An appreciation was published in The Irish Times on Thursday 22 April 1993.
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs, 1905-1993
---------------------------------------
The passing of Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs in Greenwich, Connecticut, on April 2nd brought to a close an ardent love affair with Ireland. This began when she first set eyes on Ernie O'Malley, former revolutionary leader, in her mother's dining room in Greenwich. It survived their tempestuous marriage, retaining its passion and intensity to the end of her long life, as indeed did her admiration and respect for her first husband. In speaking of him and Ireland, her impeccable Yankee accent took on a faint but perceptible Irish lilt. Hers was a life packed with activity - and hard work. Avid for knowledge of the world in all its diversity, she managed to cram into her life the experiences of ten less energetic mortals but with a heart and ear ever open to the still, sad music of humanity.
Her gifts were many, but they were used with discretion. Her talent for poetry she particularly developed in her latter years. That for sculpture was evident at the age of six, when she modelled in clay a young rabbit almost pulsating with fear. To a family which had more conventional plans for her future, this should have been a warning that art would win out over more socially acceptable talents.
Another of these was sport. By the age of eighteen she was one of the most accomplised young tennis players in the United States, winning the national ladies' junior singles and doubles in 1923. Wimbledon beckoned, with her father's enthusiastic support. But Helen put her foot down, insisting that she had more important goals. Tennis was abandoned; she was to concentrate on art thereafter. Extensive travels in Europe, including the study of dance in Greece, woodcarving in Germany, sculpture in Paris, were followed by stays in Japan, China and Korea. And then, eventually, to Ireland.
Aristocratic, imperious, passionate, highly intelligent, proud of the family from which she came and its important role in the creation and development of her home state of Connecticut, she moved as surefootedly among all strata of Irish society as among the old WASP families in which she grew up. Her years in Ireland saw the creation of her home and gardens at Burrishoole Lodge on Clew Bay, where the world she brought into being enchanted an ever-increasing circle of her own as well as her husband's friends. Later in Dublin, she helped to found the Player's Theatre. During these Irish years she sculpted many of the country's leading literary, musical and theatrical personalities, as well as civil servants, politicians and anyone she met whose ideas and character she found stimulating. She loved Ireland's traditions, its old churches and abbeys and the vivacity of its people. Out of this love came some of her best work.
Also out of this came her gifts to Ireland which, with the creative partnership of the Irish American Cultural Institute, have resulted in the O'Malley Art Collection, now in the Irish Museum of Modern Art at Kilmainham, and at Turlough House in Co. Mayo, and the annual O'Malley Art Award, initiated in 1989. In addition, she gave a collection of her photographs to the National Library. Her sculpture of Irish heads, the Helen O'Malley Roelofs Sculpture Trust Collection, will be on permanent exhibition at the University of Limerick from September this year.
All of these generous gifts have been made with the help and encouragement of her three children, Cahal, Etain and Cormac O'Malley. That in her last year all three were living in New York, and able to see her frequently was a great comfort to them and to her. To them sympathy is extended at the passing of this comet out of their firmanent. To her - "may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
P.F.D.
Otherwise
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs.
A noted Artist and Sculptor.
She married Ernie O'Malley in London on 27 September 1935.
They had three children.
They separated in 1950, and were divorced in 1952.
She married Richard Roelofs in 1956. He died in 1971.
An appreciation was published in The Irish Times on Thursday 22 April 1993.
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs, 1905-1993
---------------------------------------
The passing of Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs in Greenwich, Connecticut, on April 2nd brought to a close an ardent love affair with Ireland. This began when she first set eyes on Ernie O'Malley, former revolutionary leader, in her mother's dining room in Greenwich. It survived their tempestuous marriage, retaining its passion and intensity to the end of her long life, as indeed did her admiration and respect for her first husband. In speaking of him and Ireland, her impeccable Yankee accent took on a faint but perceptible Irish lilt. Hers was a life packed with activity - and hard work. Avid for knowledge of the world in all its diversity, she managed to cram into her life the experiences of ten less energetic mortals but with a heart and ear ever open to the still, sad music of humanity.
Her gifts were many, but they were used with discretion. Her talent for poetry she particularly developed in her latter years. That for sculpture was evident at the age of six, when she modelled in clay a young rabbit almost pulsating with fear. To a family which had more conventional plans for her future, this should have been a warning that art would win out over more socially acceptable talents.
Another of these was sport. By the age of eighteen she was one of the most accomplised young tennis players in the United States, winning the national ladies' junior singles and doubles in 1923. Wimbledon beckoned, with her father's enthusiastic support. But Helen put her foot down, insisting that she had more important goals. Tennis was abandoned; she was to concentrate on art thereafter. Extensive travels in Europe, including the study of dance in Greece, woodcarving in Germany, sculpture in Paris, were followed by stays in Japan, China and Korea. And then, eventually, to Ireland.
Aristocratic, imperious, passionate, highly intelligent, proud of the family from which she came and its important role in the creation and development of her home state of Connecticut, she moved as surefootedly among all strata of Irish society as among the old WASP families in which she grew up. Her years in Ireland saw the creation of her home and gardens at Burrishoole Lodge on Clew Bay, where the world she brought into being enchanted an ever-increasing circle of her own as well as her husband's friends. Later in Dublin, she helped to found the Player's Theatre. During these Irish years she sculpted many of the country's leading literary, musical and theatrical personalities, as well as civil servants, politicians and anyone she met whose ideas and character she found stimulating. She loved Ireland's traditions, its old churches and abbeys and the vivacity of its people. Out of this love came some of her best work.
Also out of this came her gifts to Ireland which, with the creative partnership of the Irish American Cultural Institute, have resulted in the O'Malley Art Collection, now in the Irish Museum of Modern Art at Kilmainham, and at Turlough House in Co. Mayo, and the annual O'Malley Art Award, initiated in 1989. In addition, she gave a collection of her photographs to the National Library. Her sculpture of Irish heads, the Helen O'Malley Roelofs Sculpture Trust Collection, will be on permanent exhibition at the University of Limerick from September this year.
All of these generous gifts have been made with the help and encouragement of her three children, Cahal, Etain and Cormac O'Malley. That in her last year all three were living in New York, and able to see her frequently was a great comfort to them and to her. To them sympathy is extended at the passing of this comet out of their firmanent. To her - "may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
P.F.D.
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs.
A noted Artist and Sculptor.
She married Ernie O'Malley in London on 27 September 1935.
They had three children.
They separated in 1950, and were divorced in 1952.
She married Richard Roelofs in 1956. He died in 1971.
An appreciation was published in The Irish Times on Thursday 22 April 1993.
Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs, 1905-1993
---------------------------------------
The passing of Helen Hooker O'Malley Roelofs in Greenwich, Connecticut, on April 2nd brought to a close an ardent love affair with Ireland. This began when she first set eyes on Ernie O'Malley, former revolutionary leader, in her mother's dining room in Greenwich. It survived their tempestuous marriage, retaining its passion and intensity to the end of her long life, as indeed did her admiration and respect for her first husband. In speaking of him and Ireland, her impeccable Yankee accent took on a faint but perceptible Irish lilt. Hers was a life packed with activity - and hard work. Avid for knowledge of the world in all its diversity, she managed to cram into her life the experiences of ten less energetic mortals but with a heart and ear ever open to the still, sad music of humanity.
Her gifts were many, but they were used with discretion. Her talent for poetry she particularly developed in her latter years. That for sculpture was evident at the age of six, when she modelled in clay a young rabbit almost pulsating with fear. To a family which had more conventional plans for her future, this should have been a warning that art would win out over more socially acceptable talents.
Another of these was sport. By the age of eighteen she was one of the most accomplised young tennis players in the United States, winning the national ladies' junior singles and doubles in 1923. Wimbledon beckoned, with her father's enthusiastic support. But Helen put her foot down, insisting that she had more important goals. Tennis was abandoned; she was to concentrate on art thereafter. Extensive travels in Europe, including the study of dance in Greece, woodcarving in Germany, sculpture in Paris, were followed by stays in Japan, China and Korea. And then, eventually, to Ireland.
Aristocratic, imperious, passionate, highly intelligent, proud of the family from which she came and its important role in the creation and development of her home state of Connecticut, she moved as surefootedly among all strata of Irish society as among the old WASP families in which she grew up. Her years in Ireland saw the creation of her home and gardens at Burrishoole Lodge on Clew Bay, where the world she brought into being enchanted an ever-increasing circle of her own as well as her husband's friends. Later in Dublin, she helped to found the Player's Theatre. During these Irish years she sculpted many of the country's leading literary, musical and theatrical personalities, as well as civil servants, politicians and anyone she met whose ideas and character she found stimulating. She loved Ireland's traditions, its old churches and abbeys and the vivacity of its people. Out of this love came some of her best work.
Also out of this came her gifts to Ireland which, with the creative partnership of the Irish American Cultural Institute, have resulted in the O'Malley Art Collection, now in the Irish Museum of Modern Art at Kilmainham, and at Turlough House in Co. Mayo, and the annual O'Malley Art Award, initiated in 1989. In addition, she gave a collection of her photographs to the National Library. Her sculpture of Irish heads, the Helen O'Malley Roelofs Sculpture Trust Collection, will be on permanent exhibition at the University of Limerick from September this year.
All of these generous gifts have been made with the help and encouragement of her three children, Cahal, Etain and Cormac O'Malley. That in her last year all three were living in New York, and able to see her frequently was a great comfort to them and to her. To them sympathy is extended at the passing of this comet out of their firmanent. To her - "may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
P.F.D.
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