New York -- We at TheWildGeese.irish are sorry to learn of the passing of journalist Ed Moloney, who provided our readers a front-row seat to one of the most consequential free-speech debates of the Irish Troubles. Moloney died Friday at his home in the city after a brief illness. 

Photo: Ed Moloney

Our team had nearly forgotten that we interviewed Moloney, a former Irish Times and Sunday Herald editor, in September 2011, conducted by our then-Associate Editor Mark Connor. But learning of Moloney's death, Mark reached out this week to remind us of his impact. 

In the Q&A, Mark and Moloney discussed Boston College's Belfast Project, which Moloney served as director. The project conducted, recorded and archived interviews with participants in the conflict in Northern Ireland on both sides of the divide, who were encouraged to speak their truths with the promise that the contents would not be made public until after their deaths. 

In March 2011, the Police Service of Northern Ireland attempted to force Boston College to provide them the interview with Dolours Price to further their investigation into the deaths of Jean McConville and others "disappeared" by the Provisional IRA. 

Boston College contested this effort, and the resultant legal maneuverings on both sides became the centerpiece of our interview with Moloney. Irish News editor Noel Doran read our piece and wrote to us, taking exception to a number of Moloney's assertions about the News' role in the controversy. We published Doran's response verbatim, Moloney responded, and Doran wrote again in rebuttal. 

The resultant exchanges, presented on our pages, gives us a front-row seat into the challenges of chronicling the history of the modern-day Troubles. The interview stands as one of our most impactful contributions to understanding the epic history of the Irish worldwide, as it unfolded. We extend our condolences to Ed Moloney, his family, friends and colleagues. -- Ger Regan, Joe Gannon, and Mark Connor (TheWildGeese.irish)

Related Resources:

* ‘A Chilling Effect on Oral History in This Country’: Q&A With ‘Belfast Project’ Director Ed Moloney Hell’s Kitchen – Newsletter of TheWildGeese.irish, Oct. 8, 2011) 

* Irish News Responds to Moloney Criticism ((Hell’s Kitchen – Newsletter of TheWildGeese.irish, Oct. 20, 2011)

* Former Head of Boston College Belfast Project Reasserts That ‘Irish News’ Reports Led to Controversial Subpoenas (Hell’s Kitchen – Newsletter of TheWildGeese.irish, Nov. 10, 2011)

* The Belfast Project, Boston College, and a Sealed Subpoena (https://bostoncollegesubpoena.wordpress.com/)

* Ed Moloney, award winning journalist, passes at 77 (The Broken Elbow)

* Ed Moloney: The fearless journalist who became known for uncompromising reporting on the Troubles (Belfast Telegraph, Oct. 19, 2025)

* Ed Moloney: journalist and author dies aged 77 (Irish Times, Oct. 20, 2025)

* Boston College accuses Moloney and McIntyre of ‘shameful attempt’ to deflect blame as Belfast tapes fiasco unravels (An Phoblacht, May 7, 2014)

* Ed Moloney (Wikipedia)

* 'Say Nothing’ -- Ducking Blame and Bombs in ‘The Irish Troubles' (GerRegan.com, Dec. 31, 2024)

* Mark Connor: Author, Journalist, Boxing Trainer ('It's About Time – Millions of Copies Sold for Dad’')