Renowned Mayo born plasterer honoured with rare craftsmanship award in London

George O'Malley from Newport, County Mayo has been awarded the prestigious Master Certificate by the Worshipful Company of Plaisterers in recognition of his outstanding craftmanship and skill. 

O'Malley is one of the country's leading master plasterers and specialists in decorative plasterwork. His career spans almost 50 years and some of the projects he has contributed to include St Mel's Cathedral Longford, Belvedere House, Newman House, Heuston Station, Castletown, Emo Court, Fota and Ligouri House UCD.

O'Malley was born in Burrishoole and worked alongside his father Tom from 1973 and then his uncle George for two years, who was also a master plasterer based in Dublin, before he set up his own business O’Malley Plastering in 1979.

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The award was presented to O'Malley at a ceremony recently at the Mansion House London by the Lord Mayo Alderman Alastair King. The Mayo man is among a very small list of Irish plasterers who have been recognised as masters, attesting to the level of this astounding achievement. 

O'Malley explained: "It is virtually impossible to be recognised by the Worshipful Company as a Master. You need 20 years’ experience over a broad spectrum of practices which must be judged by your peers and deemed to be of a Master standard."