Edmund “Ed” Moloney passed away on October 17, 2025 at the age of 77 in New York City after a brief illness. Moloney was an award-winning Irish journalist, author and film-maker best known for his coverage of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the activities of the Provisional IRA. He was a survivor of Polio as a child – an experience that shaped his personality and world view. He remained an advocate for disability rights and of the National Health Service to which he owed his life.
Moloney was born and educated in England, as well as Germany, Gibraltar and Malaysia. He moved to Belfast to attend Queens University, where he was introduced to Irish politics and republicanism. During those early years in Belfast, he briefly joined the Official IRA, which focused on political rather than military activities. Later in his life, Ed survived several assassination attempts by that same group.
Following university, he spent two years in Libya, teaching English as a foreign language, before returning to Belfast. Following his return from Libya, he quickly made his name with his writing which illustrated an astute understanding of the complexity of the Irish political scene. He remained in Belfast for most of his life until moving to New York in 2000 to help care for his mother-in-law in Riverdale, the Bronx.
His daily news articles, weekly columns, books, and films focused on Irish politics, featured in depth analysis of politicians and the politics of Northern Ireland. Moloney made the 30 -year war against British rule in Northern Ireland – known as ‘The Troubles’ – his specialty. Not only did Moloney’s journalism open him to attack from both sides and a close-up view of the worst horrors of the Troubles, it also brought him close to the victims and their families.
Ed worked for the Hibernia magazine and Magill before going on to write for The Irish Times, then working as Northern Editor,1980 to 1985, and subsequently serving as Northern Editor for the Sunday Tribune. In 1999, he was voted Irish Journalist of the Year. Moloney also wrote articles for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New York Daily News, The New York Post, The Economist, The Independent, The Guardian and The New Statesman.
In 1999, Moloney successfully overcame the threat of fines and a prison sentence when the authorities sought access to his interview notes relating to the murder of lawyer Pat Finucane. Backed by an Irish and international campaign of support, he successfully argued that handing over his notes, besides destroying his own reputation as a journalist, would do irreparable harm to all of journalism in Northern Ireland.
Moloney was also a respected author. His first book, Paisley, is an unauthorized biography of Unionist leader Ian Paisley, co-authored by Andy Pollak and published in 1986 (Poolbeg Press). This was followed, in 2008, by a new edition of Paisley: From Demagogue to Democrat?, of which Moloney is the single author.
In 2002, he published a best-selling history of the Provisional IRA, A Secret History of the IRA (W.W. Norton). A second edition of the book was published in July 2007. The Guardian book review in 2002 stated, “Moloney’s book is undoubtedly the best history of Ireland’s… most enduring paramilitary movement ever to be written. It is a brave and mercilessly honest project that will stand the test of time.”
Moloney directed Boston College’s Belfast Project, which collected oral interviews with republican and loyalist militants who had been active during the Troubles. The interviews were to be released only after the interviewees died. The book Voices from the Grave, published in 2010, (Faber & Faber) featured some of these interviews notably with republican Brendan Hughes and unionist David Ervine. Excerpts from the book published by The Sunday Times featured Hughes discussing his and Gerry Adams’ roles in the Provisional IRA. A documentary titled Voices From the Grave, Two Men’s War in Ireland aired on Irish broadcaster RTÉ in 2010. In February 2011, the film won the best television documentary prize at the annual Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTAs) in 2011.
In 2011, the PSNI, with support from the US Department of Justice, sought confiscation of the project’s interviews. Following a many years long legal and political battle, the project was ultimately closed and the interviews returned to the participants.
In 2018, Moloney co-wrote and co-produced the award-winning documentary I, Dolours, which told the story of IRA volounteer and hunger striker Dolours Price.
Ed met and married his wife of nearly 50 years, Joan McKiernan, in Belfast. Their son, Ciarán was born and raised there and now lives in Montreal with his wife, Stephanie. Moloney was an enthusiastic pet lover. He and his first rescue dog, Brochen played frisbee for hours in Belfast’s Botanic Gardens to the awe of onlookers. Brochen was followed by four more rescue dogs, most recently Kobe, who was adopted in New York.
The family asks that donations be made in Moloney’s honor to the Polio Global Eradication Initiative (polioeradication.org) based in Geneva, Switzerland. A memorial service will be held in NYC later this year; details will be made available on Moloney’s blog thebrokenelbow.com.
The Broken Elbow 
I’ve no words to express how I admired Ed. Though we were at Queens together, our paths did not cross. In the last few years he was of enormous help to me and I treasure our two meetings, in Dublin and Belfast.
Ireland is a different place now.
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Ed Moloney was the real thing, a reporter who reported, and he was brave.
Brian Lynch
So sad, a giant of Irish journalism. A Secret History of the IRA and Voices from the Grave are two of the best researched and favourite books I’ve ever read. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis
So sad to hear this news. A true friend, mentor and honourable man. Our love to Jean and Ed’s children. RIP dear friend.
RIP Ed 🙏🙏
I started to correspond with Ed after reading his book The Secret History of the IRA. Ed was so knowledgeable about the IRA and it’s members. He recalled meeting them in bars and on one occasion being abducted by them to face questioning. He certainly lived dangerously. A great author, writer and survivor.
I’m very sorry to see this. What always amazed me was how over time events showed that he was right and his critics were wrong. He made an amazing contribution to understanding the Provisional IRA and Sinn Féin, and that contribution will last far into the future. He was also very generous.
Patsy Ó Brádaigh, Mait and rest of family.
We, Ruairí Ó Brádaigh’s widow and family, are very sad to hear of Ed’s death. A great researcher and journalist whom we knew well. Last met in Galway at the Film Fleadh around 2018. Leaba i measc laochra na nGael go raibh aige. Joan, Ciarán and family, we extend deepest sympathies.
Sorry to hear of Ed’s passing. One of our finest, and bravest, journalist writers.
A truly sad day and a great loss to Irelands nationalist journalism. As a Blow In, I learned a lot from reading Ed’s work.
So sad for his family, but at least they can look back and know he made a difference.
Derrick Hambleton Galway.
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Sad news. Sincere condolences to Joan and family. Ed is a great loss to journalism. May he Rest In Peace.
I was sad to learn of Ed’s death and offer my sincere condolences to his beloved family. I worked with Ed at the Sunday Tribune from 1986 to 1995 and was his news editor for a couple of years. He had a warrior spirit: tough as teak, obsessed with his craft, fierce in his loyalty. I was sent to cover the Gibraltar Inquest in September 1988 and such was the (naive) quality of my reporting that Ed was sent to reinforce me. We had a great time including memorable excursions to Morocco and to Vejer de la Frontera. These were arduous trips for Ed but he was not going to give in to any corporeal weakness. The spirit was strong.
I am so sorry to hear that. Condolences. What a fine journalist Ed was, and a good friend. I hope your son is with you to help out. Keep in touch, Lin
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Ed Moloney was an outstanding journalist and a courageous man. He and his partner Joan McKiernan have been good friends for many years. Many more tributes and commentaries will be written. Condolences from Dublin, John Meehan
So sorry to learn of this. A brilliant and extremely brave writer, he stands as a model for all true journalists.
Dory Anderson
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This is very sad news. Ed kept the lamp lit for many years and we all owe him a huge debt of gratitude. I trust this wonderful site will be kept alive to honour his memory. Thank you, Ed, and RIP.
Ed was very helpful and generous with his time when I interviewed him for two dissertations on journalism during the Troubles. His books were not just meticulously researched, they were also magnificently written and unfailingly readable. While the northern conflict produced some excellent journalists and historians, Ed Moloney was the pick of the bunch and his work will undoubtedly stand the test of time.
I loved to read Ed’s journalism in the Sunday Tribune and later his excellent histories of the republican movement. He had an incredible drive to root out the truth from dark and unyielding corners. Condolences to his family and friends at this very sad time.
So sad to hear this. I was lucky enough to work with him in the Irish Times Belfast office as a young freelance. Ed was a great boss, helpful and generous with his advice and despite an often short fuse, he was also a kind and witty guy. I enjoyed his company in Gibraltar when I was covering the inquest for the Belfast Telegraph in 1988. He was devoted to his craft, a brilliant journalist. Sympathies to Joan and Ciaran. He will be much missed.
So sorry, to hear about Mr.Maloneys (Eddy) passing he taught us at Milfield tech 1976/77 and was both inspirational and provided us with an aspirational outlook on life during the ‘colourful ‘ times of Belast troubles. He would later say ,tongue in cheek, that us apprentices made him seek a career in journalism. Deepest sympathy to his beloved family .
David McCrory
I worked with Ed on a number of major Northern Ireland stories for the Irish Times in the 1980s, notably the behind the scenes efforts to end the 1981 Maze Prison hunger strike and the 1982 Kincora Boys Home revelations. We also co-authored a 1986 book on Ian Paisley. Ed was the most courageous, determined and meticulous investigative journalist I have ever known. He was one of the greats. It was a real privilege to have known and worked with him. With deep sympathy to Joan and Ciaran. Andy Pollak.
Saddened to hear of the passing of Ed Moloney, a great Irish journalist. He very kindly agreed to give me an interview about his court battles to protect his sources while I was a college journalism student. It was also a pleasure to talk to him for several excellent op-eds he wrote in the Business Post during my time there. Deepest sympathy to all Ed’s family and friends.
There is no one who had more knowledge or a better understanding of what was happening during the troubles than Ed Maloney. As a frequent guest on Radio Free Eireann, Ed freely shared his knowledge and insight into the current political landscape, always viewed through the eyes of Irish history. He gave updates on what was happening within the IRA during the peace process, and his information was always unassailable. Ed came on Radio Free Eireann when he was battling the US government, Boston College and the PSNI to try to protect the participants of the Boston College Belfast Project, which collected oral interviews with republican and loyalist militants who had been active during the troubles, with the condition that the interviews would only be released after the interviewees died. Ed generously allowed his books to be used to fundraise for WBAI, and A Secret History of the IRA and Voices from the Grave raised more money for WBAI than any other fundraiser done by Radio Free Eireann, On a personal note, Ed and his wife Joan were very close with Radio Free Eireann co-host Sandy Boyer, and generously arranged his memorial. Ed’s legacy will continue long after we are all gone, and it has been an honor and a privilege to have known him.
Such a huge loss. RIP, Ed. A blessing and honor to have known you.
So sad to hear of Ed’s passing. With an interest in politics and, in particular, ‘The Troubles’ as a young person I was an avid reader of his journalism together with ‘The Secret History …’.
Notwithstanding the censorship during the period, Ed’s reporting always provided the reader with the necessary detail and context so that they could form their own view of the conflict.
With sympathy to Ed’s family and friends.
Bryan