Irish American Writers and Artists Inc. (IAW&A) announced that author and star of film, stage, television, and radio, Malachy McCourt will receive IAW&A’s 2016 annual Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award will be presented on Monday, October 17, 2016, at the Manhattan Club, upstairs at Rosie O’Grady’s, 800 7th Avenue (at 52nd Street), starting at 6 p.m.
The Eugene O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award was established in 2009 to honor the accomplishments of a writer, actor, musician or artist whose body of work best exemplifies the level of integrity established by O’Neill. Previous Award honorees were Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy; actor and noted O’Neill interpreter Brian Dennehy; co-founders of New York’s Irish Repertory Theatre Charlotte Moore and Ciarán O’Reilly; singer, songwriter, author, and activist Judy Collins; playwright and screenwriter John Patrick Shanley; journalist and author Pete Hamill; and editor and writer Patricia Harty.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Limerick, Ireland from the age of three, Malachy McCourt returned to the land of his birth at age twenty and began his long-running career. He has appeared on and off-Broadway in ”Mass Appeal,” ”Da,” ”The Hostage,” ”Inherit the Wind,” and ”A Couple of Blaguards,” which he co-authored and starred in with his brother Frank. His TV credits include appearances on many soap operas and as a guest on ”The Tonight Show”, ”Conan O’Brien” and ”The Late, Late Show.” His movie career has also been varied, with roles in ”The Molly Maguires,” ”She’s the One,” ”Devil’s Own,” ”Green Card,” and many others. As a writer, he has published a New York Times bestselling memoir, A Monk Swimming, as well as a history of the song, “Danny Boy;” a history of the Claddagh ring, and Malachy McCourt’s History of Ireland. Malachy also co-hosts the radio show “Talk Back” on WBAI 99.5 FM.
“Malachy has been a powerful force in the arts of Irish New York for decades,” said IAW&A President Larry Kirwan. “With his acting and writing talent, his generosity of spirit, and his love of life and creativity, he is known as our organization’s ‘spiritual godfather.’ Malachy came up with the idea of the IAW&A Salon and he reads and sings there every month, delighting audiences and encouraging emerging artists.”
Legendary musician David Amram will perform at the event. Malachy’s son, filmmaker Connor McCourt, will present a short video of his father’s film and television appearances. Celebrities from the worlds of film and theater, as well as previous O’Neill Award recipients, who will be speaking about Malachy McCourt’s career and achievements.
For more information on the IAW&A, visit the organization’s website: http://i-am-wa.org/.
*Dermot McEvoy is the author of "The 13th Apostle: A Novel of a Dublin Family", "Michael Collins, and the Irish Uprising" and "Irish Miscellany" (Skyhorse Publishing). He may be reached at dermotmcevoy50@gmail.com. Follow him at www.dermotmcevoy.com. Follow The 13th Apostle on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/13thApostleMcEvoy/.
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