Maloney
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Maloney Genealogy
Ua Maul Dhomhnaigh, meaning "descendant of a servant of the church" is an old Irish surname. Maul in fact translates as "bald." Early monks and priests had close cropped hair with their trademark shaven patch. Many legends and stories relate to the association of the name with the Moloney clan.
Ua Maul Dhomhnaigh has contributed a number of anglicized surnames, the main ones being Maloney, Malony, Moloney, Molony, Mullowney and Malowney (but not Malone or Mahony). The surname is to be found in Ireland in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
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The Moloneys, one of the oldest Irish septs, were the princes of the Dil gCais in county Clare and held a number of castles around their estate at Kiltannon. Kiltannon House was and continued to be their ancestral home (until it was burnt down in 1920 during "the troubles").
They were a strongly ecclesiastical family, contributing many bishops. Father Donough O'Molony was tortured to death for his beliefs in 1601. Bishop John O'Molony held the diocese of Killaloe from 1630 to 1670 at a time when anti-Catholic legislation was at its height. His nephew John continued his work at home and abroad. The story goes that he was presented with an inlaid grey marble table by King Louis XIV of France as restitution for losing his temper over a game of cards. The O'Molony family vault was built in 1702 in the old St. Mochulla's church in Tuila.
There were land confiscations in Clare in the 1690's after the defeat of James II's supporters in Ireland. James Molony narrowly held onto Kiltanon. But others, such as Daniel Moloney of Sixmilebridge, lost their lands at this time. And many Moloneys moved away to neighboring counties of Limerick and Tipperary.
The Moloneys suffered in Clare, as did other Irish families, after the potato blight struck. Many tenant farmers like Michael Molony of Ballina were evicted from their lands. Clare overall lost a quarter of its population. Father Thomas Molony saw at first hand the sufferings in Clare in his own parish of Kilmurry Ibrickane.
Father Molony subsequently did much to publicize the plight of his starving people to British officials.
Moloneys left, as did many other Irish families. Early departures included William Moloney from county Clare who was conscripted into the British army in the 1770's to fight the Americans. He ended up in Canada. Various Maloneys settled in Newfoundland, as place names such as Maloney beach, Maloney hill, and Malloney river attest. The exodus increased after the potato famine. One family account narrates the emigration of Thomas and Ellen Moloney and their five children to Sydney in Australia in 1853.
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Bishop John O'Molony from Clare promoted the oppressed Irish Catholic Church in the late 17th century by re-establishing the Irish College in Paris.
Paddy Moloney is a member of the Irish musical group The Chieftains and the main composer and arranger of its music.
Father Francis Moloney is an adviser to Pope Benedict and is widely considered to be the leading authority on the Gospel of St. John.
Select Maloney Today
Select Index of Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames
Ua Maul Dhomhnaigh, meaning "descendant of a servant of the church" is an old Irish surname. Maul in fact translates as "bald." Early monks and priests had close cropped hair with their trademark shaven patch. Many legends and stories relate to the association of the name with the Moloney clan.
Ua Maul Dhomhnaigh has contributed a number of anglicized surnames, the main ones being Maloney, Malony, Moloney, Molony, Mullowney and Malowney (but not Malone or Mahony). The surname is to be found in Ireland in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.
Select Maloney Resources on The Internet
- Maloney Clan Website. Clan website.
- Genealogy of a Country Family. David H. Moloney's book.
- Malowney Name. Malowney website.
The Moloneys, one of the oldest Irish septs, were the princes of the Dil gCais in county Clare and held a number of castles around their estate at Kiltannon. Kiltannon House was and continued to be their ancestral home (until it was burnt down in 1920 during "the troubles").
They were a strongly ecclesiastical family, contributing many bishops. Father Donough O'Molony was tortured to death for his beliefs in 1601. Bishop John O'Molony held the diocese of Killaloe from 1630 to 1670 at a time when anti-Catholic legislation was at its height. His nephew John continued his work at home and abroad. The story goes that he was presented with an inlaid grey marble table by King Louis XIV of France as restitution for losing his temper over a game of cards. The O'Molony family vault was built in 1702 in the old St. Mochulla's church in Tuila.
There were land confiscations in Clare in the 1690's after the defeat of James II's supporters in Ireland. James Molony narrowly held onto Kiltanon. But others, such as Daniel Moloney of Sixmilebridge, lost their lands at this time. And many Moloneys moved away to neighboring counties of Limerick and Tipperary.
The Moloneys suffered in Clare, as did other Irish families, after the potato blight struck. Many tenant farmers like Michael Molony of Ballina were evicted from their lands. Clare overall lost a quarter of its population. Father Thomas Molony saw at first hand the sufferings in Clare in his own parish of Kilmurry Ibrickane.
"On last Sunday and Monday week, the
broken-hearted clergyman had to drag his own tottering limbs, with
scarce of interval of rest, from one corpse to another. In the
three subsequent days, overcome, feeble and faint, he had still to
continue his attendance to the dying, to pass continually from townland
to townland, to look on corpse on corpse, to behold renewed over and
over all the agonies and horrors."
Father Molony subsequently did much to publicize the plight of his starving people to British officials.
Moloneys left, as did many other Irish families. Early departures included William Moloney from county Clare who was conscripted into the British army in the 1770's to fight the Americans. He ended up in Canada. Various Maloneys settled in Newfoundland, as place names such as Maloney beach, Maloney hill, and Malloney river attest. The exodus increased after the potato famine. One family account narrates the emigration of Thomas and Ellen Moloney and their five children to Sydney in Australia in 1853.
Select Maloney Miscellany
If you would like to read more, click on the miscellany page for
further stories and accounts:
Select Maloney Names
Bishop John O'Molony from Clare promoted the oppressed Irish Catholic Church in the late 17th century by re-establishing the Irish College in Paris.
Paddy Moloney is a member of the Irish musical group The Chieftains and the main composer and arranger of its music.
Father Francis Moloney is an adviser to Pope Benedict and is widely considered to be the leading authority on the Gospel of St. John.
Select Maloney Today
- 8,000 in the UK (most numerous in Manchester)
- 11,000 in America (most numerous in New York)
- 26,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Ireland)
Select Index of Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames