Cong pays tribute to Maureen O’Hara

Ciara Galvin

VISITORS and locals in Cong have been laying floral tributes at the The Quiet Man statue in the village in tribute to the late Maureen O’Hara.
The star of the 1951 film, which was shot in the village, passed away peacefully in her Idaho home on Saturday at the age of 95.
The Hollywood starlet passed away as the Cong Festival, which she attended in 2011, was getting started in the village. As a mark of respect the festival committee have decided to postpone the Inisfree Masquerade Ball which was due to take place this Friday.
Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday) festival chairman Patrick Luskin said there was ‘mixed feelings’ following the news.
“There’s mixed feelings of sadness and happiness and it’s poignant that she passed away the weekend of the fourth annual festival. There’s more and more flowers being laid at the statue every time I pass,” said Patrick, who described the star as ‘a great lady’.
Patrick recalled how Maureen’s visit to her beloved Cong occurred four years ago.
“My father was an extra in the film and said he would love to meet her again and it got some of us thinking. We contacted her and said there was 30 extras from the film that would love to meet her. She got straight back to us and we were very humbled when she thanked us for the invite to return.”

Special occasion
The flame haired actress returned to Cong on August 26, 2011 to mark the 60th anniversary of the filming, accompanied by John Wayne’s daughter and granddaughter. Five thousand people came to the village that day to see her present specially commissioned medals to each of the film extras.
Patrick recalls a special moment which showed the actress’ special affinity for people.
“She was quite tired and her drivers were keen to get her back to Cork but she insisted on travelling back via Ballinrobe, to visit people in the nursing home who would have been in the film. We didn’t even think of that. She just loved meeting people, and talking to children,” said Mr Luskin.
In a letter penned by O’Hara and read out at the unveiling of the statue of Mary Kate and SeΡn, O’Hara said ‘The Quiet Man’ was her favourite film. “I love it so much because it was the first great movie about Ireland, made her look wonderful, and shared her customs and traditions with the rest of the world.”
She went on to thank the people of Cong for keeping the film ‘alive and in your hearts all these years’.
Social media sites erupted with tributes following O’Hara’s passing with people such as Roddy Doyle and An Taoiseach Enda Kenny paying tribute.
O’Hara was born in Ranelagh in 1920 and was the eldest of six children in the Fitzsimons family. The Abbey Theatre-trained actor became a US citizen in 1946 and held dual Irish-US citizenship. She was awarded an honorary Oscar Award last year.
A special screening of ‘The Quiet Man’ took place in the marquee in Cong last night as a tribute to the Hollywood great.