If his library is anything to go by, he was indeed a most extraordinary - and most well read - Irish farmer. In his vast and eclectic collection of books, I found an early translation of the Yoga sutras of Patanjali and a copy of Lao Tse's Tao Te King, alongside the work of Schumacher and Karl Marx. And of course, an extensive collection of Irish poets and writers.
He also wrote, although unfortunately, none of his writing was ever published.
Amongst his close friends were his cousin, the famous painter Tony O'Malley as well as the Irish film maker and writer Bob Quinn. And although he had left the church and was quite vocal about it, he also counted a priest amongst his friends.
As per his wishes, he is now buried in an unmarked grave on the land that he farmed all his life.
Michael Joe O Malley, December 1914 - August 1988