Malachy

In Ireland, the name Malachy is less associated with the Biblical Malachi (one of the twelve Minor Prophets in the Old Testament) than he is with one of Ireland’s High Kings, Máel Sechnaill of the 9th century. In Ireland, the Gaelic Máel Sechnaill basically translates to “devotee of St. Seachnall” (who was one of Saint Patrick's first companions). It’s very similar to how Malcolm developed as a boy’s name in Gaelic Scotland; it means “devotee of St. Columba” (one of the most important saints in Scottish history). In Ireland’s history, Saint Seachnall lived in the 5th century – he was not only a disciple of St. Patrick’s, but he was his contemporary. Many historians note Seachnall’s arrival in Ireland dated circa 439; likely coming up from northern Italy to aid St. Patrick in his Christian missionary endeavors. Others say he was St. Patrick’s nephew who came over from Gaul to help his uncle spread Christianity to the pagan Irish. It’s speculated that Seachnall’s name is the Irish-Gaelic version of the saint’s original Latin name, Secundinus – from an Old Roman given name Secundus – meaning “second” (usually given to a child born second in terms of birth order). What’s apropos about this etymology is that St. Seachnall would be considered “second” only to St. Patrick when it came to his importance among the early medieval Irish people. In other words, Saint Seachnall was highly revered in Ireland, so it’s with no surprise we find Máel Sechnaill as a prominant name in Ireland’s history books, the late 10th / early 11th century High King of Ireland. Máel Sechnaill – or Malachy the Great as he is remembered today – led the Irish warriors against the occupying Norsemen (Vikings) at the Battle of Tara (980). Malachy’s victory would be great indeed – he recaptured the Kingdom of Dublin and put it back into the hands of the native Irish-Gaels. So when you see the Irish name Malachy, understand the name is etymologically unrelated to the Biblical Hebrew Malachi.