Community Board 7 Reviews Street Co-Naming Application for Malachy McCourt

The Transportation Committee of Community Board 7 met on Tuesday evening to review an application to co-name a street for Malachy McCourt, an Upper West Sider for nearly six decades until his passing in March 2024 at the age of 92.

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“He was Irish, but he was a mensch,” said his longtime next-door neighbor Jeff Baron in our story shortly thereafter. Known far and wide for his New York Times best-selling memoirs, his work in television and film, his contributions to talk radio, and his political activism, McCourt was a big personality with a big heart. Now, his family is seeking to name the northeast corner of West 93rd Street and West End Avenue—the corner he called home—after the beloved Irish-American.

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“He was fearless, absolutely fearless,” said McCourt’s daughter, Siobhan, speaking about her father, who she noted would talk to anyone—whether a child on the street or performing in front of 20,000 people. “He stood up for the underdog, and he just didn’t care.”

Siobhan highlighted Symphony Space at Broadway and 96th Street, where Malachy performed in theatrical productions, held salons, and celebrated the launch of his 2006 gubernatorial campaign as a Green Party candidate.

As the presentation continued, it became increasingly clear why Malachy had been honored with the NYCLU’s Florina Lasker Civil Liberties Award in 2003, which recognizes individuals, groups, or organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to civil liberties.

McCourt’s son, Connor, told CB7 that he’s lived his entire life—59 years—on the Upper West Side. “We are entrenched on 93rd [Street],” he said. He went on to share a remarkable McCourt fact: Angela, from his uncle Frank McCourt’s best-selling memoir Angela’s Ashes, lived and died at West 93rd Street and West End Avenue.

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Connor and his sister then shared a video produced by the New York Daily News, in which their father spoke about death and his uncertainty over whether it truly marked the end. “It really doesn’t matter,” McCourt said in the clip, “but it might give me an eternal laugh if they would say, ‘He made us laugh.’”

Shortly afterward, McCourt added, “When you stop getting older, you’re dead”—a line that had us bust a gut. Cheers to the man who was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Ireland, and came to New York City when he was 20. The McCourt family also recalled the time in 2021 when Mayor Bill de Blasio declared March 17th “Malachy McCourt Day” in New York City, honoring the Irish-American on St. Patrick’s Day.

Towards the end of the 10-minute presentation, Siobhan illuminated Saint Pat’s For All, an event her father was instrumental in starting. “Because they wouldn’t let gay people march in the parade on Fifth Avenue, they started this parade in Queens called Saint Pat’s For All,” she said. She added that her father, along with his four brothers, had all served as Grand Marshals of the event at one time or another.

“I think this is an extraordinary criteria,” said City Councilmember Gale Brewer, who was in attendance for the hearing.

The vote on the street renaming was tabled for four weeks due to CB7 rules requiring materials to be reviewed for that period. Connor McCourt had earlier expressed hope that his mother would be there for the street unveiling.

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