#OTD in 2015 – Death of actress and singer, Maureen O’Hara, born Maureen FitzSimons in Ranelagh, Co Dublin.

Ar deis Dé go raibh a hanam. The famously red-headed O’Hara was known for playing fiercely passionate but sensible heroines, and often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne. She was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. In her memoir ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography, she writes, […]

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#OTD in 1973 – Death of legendary film Director John Ford.

Film site IMDb states: John Ford is, arguably, The Great American Director.” Although born John Martin Feeney, he never forgot his Irish roots. John Ford’s homage ‘The Quiet Man’ to his ancestral was hardly an accurate depiction of Ireland. However, the 1952 movie is probably the best tourist commercial ever for Ireland. Filmed in Co […]

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#OTD in 1920 – Birth of Maureen O’Hara, born Maureen FitzSimons in Ranelagh, Co Dublin.

“Above all else, deep in my soul, I’m a tough Irishwoman.” –Maureen O’Hara Perhaps the most famous redhead in the world, actress Maureen O’Hara (born Maureen Fitzsimons) is born in Dublin. O’Hara is probably most famous for her role in John Ford’s The Quiet Man where she played opposite John Wayne. Blessed with fiery red […]

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#OTD in 1964 – Death of novelist Maurice Walsh, author of the original story of The Quiet Man.

Maurice Walsh was born in Ballydonoghue, near Listowel, Co Kerry, and is best known for the short story The Quiet Man which was later made into an Oscar-winning movie directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. He was one of Ireland’s best-selling authors in the 1930s. John Walsh’s main interests were […]

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#OTD in 1896 – Birth of stage and film actor, Arthur Shields (younger brother of Barry Fitzgerald), in Portobello, Co Dublin.

While Sean Connolly claimed the unfortunate title of being the first rebel fatality, others were luckier and escaped from Easter Week, 1916 with their lives. For Arthur Shields, his role in the Rising was to become merely an interesting titbit in what was a fascinating career as an actor at home and in the US. […]

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#OTD in 1961 – Death of stage, film and television actor, Barry Fitzgerald, in Dublin.

Barry Fitzgerald was born William Joseph Shields in Walworth Road, Portobello, Dublin. He was the older brother of actor, Arthur Shields. As a child he played with the younger siblings of James Joyce who he called ‘a young man with a beard and very clever.’ He went to Skerry’s College, Dublin, before going on to […]

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#OTD in 2015 – Death of actress and singer, Maureen O’Hara, born Maureen FitzSimons in Ranelagh, Co Dublin.

Ar deis Dé go raibh a hanam. The famously red-headed O’Hara was known for playing fiercely passionate but sensible heroines, and often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne. She was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. In her memoir ‘Tis Herself: An Autobiography, she writes, […]

Read More

#OTD in 1973 – Death of legendary film Director John Ford.

Film site IMDb states: John Ford is, arguably, The Great American Director.” Although born John Martin Feeney, he never forgot his Irish roots. John Ford’s homage ‘The Quiet Man’ to his ancestral was hardly an accurate depiction of Ireland. However, the 1952 movie is probably the best tourist commercial ever for Ireland. Filmed in Co […]

Read More

#OTD in 1920 – Birth of Maureen O’Hara, born Maureen FitzSimons in Ranelagh, Co Dublin.

“Above all else, deep in my soul, I’m a tough Irishwoman.” –Maureen O’Hara Perhaps the most famous redhead in the world, actress Maureen O’Hara (born Maureen Fitzsimons) is born in Dublin. O’Hara is probably most famous for her role in John Ford’s The Quiet Man where she played opposite John Wayne. Blessed with fiery red […]

Read More

#OTD in 1964 – Death of novelist Maurice Walsh, author of the original story of The Quiet Man.

Maurice Walsh was born in Ballydonoghue, near Listowel, Co Kerry, and is best known for the short story The Quiet Man which was later made into an Oscar-winning movie directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. He was one of Ireland’s best-selling authors in the 1930s. John Walsh’s main interests were […]

Read More