Mick Moloney

Michael Moloney (15 November 1944 – 27 July 2022) was an Irish-born American musician and scholar. He was the artistic director of several major arts tours and co-founded Green Fields of America.

Early life Moloney was born in Limerick, Ireland, on 15 November 1944. His father, Michael, was the head air traffic control officer of Shannon Airport; his mother, Maura, worked as the principal of a Limerick primary school. He studied at the University College Dublin, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics.

In addition to music performance, Moloney wrote Far From the Shamrock Shore: The Story of Irish American History Through Song, which was published by Crown Publications in February 2002 with a supplementary CD on Shanachie Records. He hosted three nationally syndicated series covering folk music on American Public Television. He worked as a consultant, performer, and interviewee on the RTÉ special Bringing It All Back Home, and was also a participant, consultant, and music arranger for Out of Ireland, a documentary film by PBS. Moloney performed on the PBS special The Irish in America: Long Journey Home.

Personal life and death He was married three times over the course of his life. His first marriage was to Miriam Murphy. His second marriage was to Philomena Murray. Together, they had one child. They eventually divorced. His third marriage, to Judy Sherman, also ended in divorce. He was in a domestic partnership with Sangjan Chailungka at the time of his death. During his later years, he divided his time between Bangkok – where he resided with Chailungka – and his apartment in Greenwich Village.

Awards

1999 National Heritage Fellowship

2013 Presidential Distinguished Service Awards for the Irish Abroad

Discography Solo We Have Met Together (Transatlantic, 1973) Strings Attached (Green Linnet, 1980) Far From the Shamrock Shore (Shanachie, 2002) McNally’s Row of Flats (Compass, 2006) If It Wasn't For The Irish And The Jews (Compass, 2009)

With Eugene O’Donnell Mick Moloney With Eugene O'Donnell (Green Linnet, 1978) Slow Airs & Set Dances (Green Linnet, 1978) Uncommon Bonds (Green Linnet, 1984)

With Robbie O’Connell and Jimmy Keane There Were Roses (w/ Liz Carroll) (Green Linnet, 1986) Kilkelly (Green Linnet, 1987)

With Eugene O’Donnell and Seamus Egan Three Way Street (Green Linnet, 1993)

With Martin Mulvihill Traditional Irish Fiddling From County Limerick (Green Linnet/Innisfree, 1978)

With Eddie Cahill Ah! Surely (Shanachie, 1979)

With Athena Tergis An Irish Christmas (A Musical Solstice Celebration) (Irish Arts Center, 2011)

With the Irish Tradition The Corner House (Green Linnet, 1978)

As a special guest Niamh Ní Charra with other special guests: Séamus Begley, Liz Carroll, Donogh Hennessy, Jimmy Keane, Anne McAuliffe, Nicky McAuliffe, Donal Murphy, and Tommy O Sullivan – Cuz - A Tribute To Terry "Cuz" Teahan (Imeartas Records/The Arts Council of Ireland, 2013)