Born: September 20th, 1931
Died: March 11th, 2024
Malachy McCourt, who escaped a challenging childhood in Ireland to establish himself as a versatile figure in the US, engaging in acting, running a pub, and achieving success as a bestselling author, passed away in New York City earlier this month at the age of 92.
In a conversation with The New York Times last year, Malachy McCourt candidly discussed his battles with a heart condition, various types of cancer, and muscular degeneration.
At the age of 20 in 1952, Malachy McCourt, born in Brooklyn, New York, returned to the city where he would carve out his future.
Journeying from Ireland with only $200, a sum provided by his elder brother Frank McCourt, who had previously moved to the US and worked as an English teacher, Malachy embarked on a new chapter in his life. Frank, later known for his acclaimed work “Angela’s Ashes,” also supported Malachy’s literary pursuits.
Malachy McCourt left his education behind in Limerick at the age of 13, following his father’s departure and his mother Angela’s valiant efforts to raise their children amidst financial hardship.
Reflecting on his challenging past, Malachy once shared with The New York Times in 1998, “Coming out of that life, the things that get you are the two evils of shame on one shoulder, the demon fear on the other.”
In the mid-1980s, Malachy made a significant lifestyle change by giving up drinking and smoking.
Known for his robust presence and distinctive red beard, Malachy McCourt made appearances on soap operas, notably earning a recurring role as a barman on Ryan’s Hope. In the 1950s, he established Malachy’s, considered Manhattan’s original singles bar, situated on the Upper East Side.
Despite inevitable comparisons to his brother’s Pulitzer Prize-winning autobiography, Malachy McCourt’s own literary works, including “A Monk Swimming” and “Singing My Him Song,” showcased his unique storytelling style and humor.
Describing his upbringing, Malachy once remarked, “The great psychobabble today is the dysfunctional family. Well, I’ve never met one that was functional.”
Malachy Gerard McCourt, born on September 20th, 1931, in Brooklyn, hailed from a family with a tumultuous history, marked by his father’s involvement with the IRA and his parents’ journey back to Ireland during the Depression.
Recounting his early years, Malachy humorously noted, “I was a smiley little fella with a raging heart and murderous instincts.”
While his formal education was limited, Malachy found solace in books and storytelling, eventually becoming known for his captivating narratives.
Malachy McCourt’s life was a tapestry of diverse experiences, from working odd jobs in England to pursuing acting opportunities in the US and embracing his Irish heritage as a defining aspect of his identity.
Survived by his wife Diana McCourt, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, Malachy McCourt’s legacy as a charismatic storyteller and multifaceted personality endures.