Tributes have been paid to the writer, actor, and well-known raconteur Malachy McCourt, who has died at his home in New York at the age of 92.
Malachy McCourt was the youngest and last surviving sibling of seven of the McCourt family.
His brother Frank McCourt wrote the Pulitzer prize winning novel 'Angelas Ashes' in 1996 which chronicles their life of hardship and poverty growing up in the lanes of Limerick.
He and Malachy also wrote and performed a play ‘A Couple of Blagards’, which also outlined their lives and that of their parents in Limerick.
Malachy McCourt was born in Brooklyn in 1931, but his formative years were spent in Limerick when his parents relocated in the mid 1930s.
His memoir ‘A Monk Swimming’ was penned in 1998 in which he wrote about his life in the US after he returned there when he was 20, helped with the fare from his author brother Frank, who was working as a school teacher in New York.
Mr McCourt appeared in a number of television commercials, soap operas and films including 'Bonfire of the Vanities,' the 'Other Guys' and 'Reversal of Fortune'.
He also dabbled in politics. He ran for governor of New York in 2006 representing the Green Party. He also ran a bar in Manhattan, known after his name Malachy’s bar.
Mayor of Limerick Cllr Ger Mitchell paid tribute to him recalling that in October 2019, Malachy was honoured at a Mayoral Reception in Limerick in recognition of his unique contribution and the contribution of the McCourt family to the telling of Limerick's story around the world.
He said he embraced life with vitality, carving out his own remarkable legacy.
He owned a New York bar, embraced the arts, dabbled in acting, ventured into writing, lent his voice to broadcasting, engaged in political campaigns and even ran for New York Governor.
"I offer my condolences to his wife Diana and family. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis," Cllr Mitchell said.
Limerick council CEO Pat Daly said "The passing of Malachy McCourt marks the end of an era as he was the last surviving member of that well-known family who have left an indelible mark on Limerick.
"Malachy paid many visits to Limerick and his charm and wit were ever-present. My condolences to his wife Diana and his family at this sad time"
The Irish Consulate in New York said: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of Malachy McCourt. A born raconteur, Malachy's acting & storytelling has left an indelible mark, capturing the essence of Irish-American culture for generations to come. Sending heartfelt condolences to his family & all those who loved him."
His friend Limerick artist Una Heaton who re-opened the Leamy’s school in Limerick where the McCourts attended, as a museum in 2009, said he was a larger than life character and he will be sorely missed.
She got to know him through her friendship with Frank, and he made an emotional visit to the school in 2009, and he also returned to the museum with some of Frank McCourt ashes following his death.
She said he also made a number of return visits with his own son Malachy and his grandchildren and always was the best of company regaling all with his songs and stories of the past.
Malachy McCourt is survived by his wife Diana, his children Siobhan, Malachy Jr, Conor and Cormac and step daughter Nina Galin, and nine grandchildren and great grandchild.
