Ida Mary O'Malley
| Ida Mary Costello | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Ida Mary O'Malley 1891 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 20 April 1956 (aged 65) Dublin, Ireland |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Alma mater | University College Dublin |
| Spouse(s) | John A. Costello (m. 1919–56, her death) |
| Children | Wilfrid, Grace, Declan, Eavan, John |
Ida Mary Costello (née O'Malley; 1891 – 20 April 1956) was the wife of John A. Costello, who served as Taoiseach of Ireland on two separate occasions between 1948 and 1957.
Ida Mary O'Malley was born in Dublin, the eldest of 13 children, seven boys and six girls. Her father, Dr. David O'Malley, was a very popular medical officer from Glenamaddy, County Galway. The O'Malley's were Redmondite Nationalists and at least four of her brothers joined the British Army during World War I, two of them being killed.
She was educated at the Dominican School in Eccles Street and spent the academic year 1907-08 studying in Amiens on an early exchange programme. After taking a degree at University College Dublin, she later taught at her alma mater in Eccles Street.
O'Malley met John A. Costello at a dance in the Gresham Hotel in 1912 when he was still a law student. A relationship developed over the next seven years and they were married on 31 July 1919 at the Catholic University Church in St. Stephen's Green.
The Costellos spent the first four years of their marriage living in a flat at 22 Ely Place. They were living there when their first child, Wilfrid, was born in 1921. He suffered a cerebral haemorrhage during his birth which left him with a mild mental disability. He later developed epilepsy as a teenager. The Costellos eldest daughter, Grace, was born in 1922. She followed her father into law and married the solicitor and economist Alexis FitzGerald. In August 1923 the growing family moved to Herbert Park. A second son, Declan, was born in 1926. As well as following his father into law, he also served as a TD before being made President of the High Court. Eavan Costello, the couples' second and youngest daughter, was born in 1927. She completed a history degree before moving to Cork. The youngest of the family, John, was born in 1931. He later became an architect.
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