Call to bring Maureen O’Hara statue from Glengarriff to Mayo

by Auld Stock

Maureen O’Hara, one of Hollywood’s most glamorous film stars, who played the leading female role opposite John Wayne in ‘The Quiet Man’, lived in Glengarriff, Co. Cork, for a number of years prior to her death.

‘The Quiet Man’ was filmed in the majestic surroundings of Cong and during that time Maureen O’Hara visited Castlebar on several occasions.

Maureen loved to visit Castlebar, where she spent most of her summer holidays as guest of the Ryan family, Newtown.

She was also a close personal friend of John Joe Collins and family, Davitt’s Terrace, Castlebar.

Maureen and her mother loved to walk around Lough Lannagh and chat to local people when they visited the county capital.

A photograph of Maureen and her mother at Lough Lannagh was published in Castlebar Parish Magzine some years ago.

A life-size bronze statue of Maureen O’Hara by the distinguished sculptor, Dan Cronin, was erected in Glengarriff some time ago.

Cronin’s work was greatly admired but it was the subject of some criticism, so much so that Cronin decided to remove the statue from its pedestal.

Perhaps Dan Cronin might agree to have the statue of Maureen O’Hara erected in Castlebar where she spent many happy holidays.

Tourist interests in Castlebar and the local Chamber of Commerce might follow up on this suggestion.

It’s certainly worth a try.

Over to you, folks.