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O Mahony Society (OMS)
leaders and members had CLARIFICATION:
the opportunity for a lovely The O Mahony Society proudly recognizes the office of Taoiseach
get together and completely for John O Mahony of Co. Galway, from his election in June, 2023,
unofficial O Mahony Meet to his resignation from office and the O Mahony Society Council
on 23 February 2024. The Officers, Council, and membership of
and Greet in Asheville, North the Society will always be appreciative of his many talents and his
Carolina USA on 21 and 22 contributions to the Society over his many years of membership.
July 2024. From left, OMS
Member Cooper O'Mahoney,
OMS Volunteer Graphic Designer Joel Kotchevar, OMS Council Member
and publications proofreader Linda McConnell Baker, OMS Member
Alison Baker, OMS Volunteer Webmaster and IT Specialist Larry
Baker, and OMS Volunteer Council Member and Publications Editor Bill
Badzmierowski (aka Bill O'Badz)

Former longtime Runai and now
Honorary Life Member Linda
McConnell Baker and her OMS
webmaster husband Larry are OMS Council Members Linda
delighted to share the news of the McConnell Baker, Bill Badzmierowski,
engagement of their eldest grandson, OMS Interim Taoiseach Mary Haislip
Victor Melendez and his beloved, (by phone), and OMS Members Larry
Sonia Wieczorek. A son of OMS Baker and Joel Kotchevar met at
members Amber and Jeremy Ryan ÉireannRidge 26 and 27 April to analyze several aspects of
Baker, Victor proposed at dawn on the Society operations and methods as we prepare for our 70th
winter solstice at Stonehenge while Anniversary. As a result of our meetings, we introduced
online event registration for the in-person and virtual portions
they were on holiday in the UK, and of the 69th Annual Gathering in Irland. We anticipate using a
he was honored to get a “YES!” when similar system for all upcoming events. Future improvements
he popped the question. An October will include online membership registration!
2025 wedding is planned.

OMS Publications Editor Bill O’Badz
and OMS Member Joel Kotchevar
finished building their lovely home in
Zionville, North Carolina, USA. Joel and
Bill are now stewards of five acres of
land gifted to us by history. In honor of
Bill’s Irish Mother (Rita Janet Gifford
Badzmierowski) and grandmother
(Bridget Theresa O’Mahoney Gifford), we have christened our new homestead “ÉireannRidge.” This roughly translates as “Ireland’s Ridge.”
They were recently asked why those chose to build in this part of the world: “Is it any wonder that we chose to build our new home in the
Appalachian Blue Ridge Mountain Range in the western part of North Carolina? The area’s Irish-Scots history reaches back to the 1600’s. Our love
for Ireland, the Blue Ridge geography, the warm and welcoming culture of the community in the area, and Bill’s Irish heritage all played a part in
our decision to move here.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: “Member News and Milestones” is a regular newsletter feature and we hope to hear from you about your member news and milestones!
See the above updates for examples. Some may want to include significant wedding anniversaries, accomplishments on a job or job changes, or (right up
the genealogist’s alley) births, marriages, and deaths. This will be a dynamic feature written by our members and is solely dependent on your contributions.
Please send member news and milestones to Publications Editor Bill Badzmierowski at wfbjjk@gmail.com.
For tracking purposes, please state “OMS Member Update” in the subject line of your email. 15