I named my cat Malachy after bringing him home from the shelter, where he had been known as Malachi (he came in as a stray, so they named him there). The latter struck me as too somber and scholarly for a fluffy weirdo like my little man. Malachy is perfect, invoking a sort of battle-readiness and mischief.
Malachy rose against Brian Boru the famous Irish hero in the battle of Clontarf and won. He did wait until Brian was a very old man before he did it though.
― Anonymous User 2/19/2008
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The famous Irish author Malachy McCourt, brother of Frank McCourt who also is a famous author, bears this name.