’The Virginian’ in Mayo

An emotional ‘homecoming’

Michael Commins

AMERICAN cowboy actor James Drury rolled into Claremorris last Sunday week and it has been a roller-coaster nine days for the man from Texas ever since.
The star of the famous western series on television has been swamped with good wishes in what has been a hugely emotional occasion for the 74-year-old actor. How he has managed to last the hectic pace has surprised all around him. “Hey, it’s easy when you are in the company of friends. This has been an amazing journey for me. It’s like a homecoming even though it’s my first trip to Ireland. But this is the land of my ancestors. I would have a natural affinity with the Irish.”
Numerous newspaper, radio and television interviews have been handled with panache and grace by the veteran actor since he arrived in Ireland. His charming presence and immense aura has captivated all along the way.
On Wednesday night, he was the featured guest on the Mid-West Radio late show. The programme was inundated with messages of goodwill with people sharing nostalgic memories of ‘The Virginian’ and the special place it had in the hearts of those who watched the trend-setting western in the 1960s and ‘70s. Calls were received from all over Ireland as well as from America, England and Australia.
Earlier in the evening, James and his wife Carl Anne celebrated their wedding anniversary with a special dinner for friends in the Western Hotel in Claremorris. It was a lovely occasion and a piece of Waterford Glass was presented to James on behalf of Claremorris Agricultural Show Society. Martina Griffin, whose husband Tommy has treated James with his bio-energy formula on a number of occasions, presented a bouquet of flowers to Carl Ann.
The Galway Races was his port of call on Thursday where he was again the centre of attention. And on Friday he headed over to the Frenchpark and Kingsland area of Roscommon where there was a huge outpouring of goodwill.
“It was like President Kennedy coming to New Ross back in the 1960s,” said his friend Eamon Finnerty from Hollymount and Houston. “There was a huge gathering at the Saddlers Inn and proprietor Sean Flanagan had two horses tied outside. It was really a fantastic evening. He pulled out all the stops to make this a truly memorable occasion. It will take us a long time to recover from this whirlwind tour. It has been really special.”
Earlier, James met up with Drury family relations and visited the cemetery where some of his ancestors were interred in years gone by. “It was very emotional for me. Those few private moments touched my heart. I knew I was home. I met many cousins in Roscommon and they’ve been there for a long time, rotating the crops and raising cattle. I am so grateful to the Drury relations and to Sean Flanagan in the Saddlers Inn for the huge welcome they accorded me. It was magnificent.”
Hundreds queued for hours at the Western Hotel in Claremorris on Saturday to meet The Virginian, have their photos taken with him and get signed autographs. People from Donegal, Waterford, Cork, Kerry, Dublin and many parts of the country were present. A group came over from Bristol in England to meet James while a lady came all the way from Berlin and a couple from Switzerland.
In Finnerty’s bar in Hollymount on Saturday night, he had a chance to sit back and relax in the company of friends.
James performed the official opening of Claremorris Agricultural Show on Sunday and afterwards spent over five hours at a signing and photo session in the showgrounds. Yesterday, James and Carl Anne, in the company of Eamon Finnerty and Tom Garvin and the Brady family from Cavan, and with Cyril O’Neill from Connaught Limo Hire behind the wheel, visited Cloonmore, Cuiltybo and Murneen before heading off on a sight-seeing tour.
Last night (Monday), James was the recipient of a special presentation from the Claremorris Chamber of Commerce at a party in the Western Hotel. Tributes were paid to James for the high profile he had brought to Claremorris during his visit and to Eamon Finnerty who coordinated the entire trip.
For James Drury, who goes back to Texas today (Tuesday), it has been the trip of a lifetime. “It is just amazing, the best ever. Since I was a little kid, I wanted to come to Ireland and we finally got the opportunity this time. We’ve had a great time. Unbelievable. The outpouring of warmth and goodwill has been extraordinary. Everyone has been so kind and Paul and Ann Hanley and staff have looked after us so well in Claremorris. It will be hard to settle back in Texas after this trip.
“Ireland is much more wonderful than I thought it would be. I am so impressed. The people are what make it. They can’t do enough for you. It’s a magical place.”

A prayer I will never forget

FAN’S VIEW
Michael Evers

I SENSED the excitement of Shiloh and Medicine Bow, horses, cattle and the way The Virginian could make it all run smoothly from the first episode I saw on TG4. It was no surprise to hear that millions of people all over the world had felt the same. That was why 296 episodes were made.
I discovered that the whole series could be bought on eBay. I made a bid and was successful.
When I saw on the internet that James planned to visit Ireland and that The Mayo News would have details, a series of e-mails started between Michael Commins and me. Michael kept me up to date about the visit and invited me to come to the welcoming party in the Western Hotel in Claremorris on Sunday, July 27.
I was thrilled to meet James. He has a warm and gracious presence and had a special word for each person. He was willing to have pictures taken even when he was having a smoke outside. He would get up on request and wrap his arm around the shoulder of the person who wanted the photograph. James is no different from the noble, wise and compassionate character he portrays. He is a cool, down to earth guy.
I showed James my eBay purchase of all his episodes; a light-weight pack, which in original film might have covered acres of Shiloh. He took the DVD set of his nine years’ work in his hands and wrote a dedication across it. 
I will always cherish the memory of  the evening with James. As the night drew to a close, we said good night. ‘God bless ye,’ James said as we walked away from that wonderful evening. A prayer from a great man!

* Michael Evers from Kiltimagh is among the most ardent young followers of The Virginian series. He will commence his Leaving Cert studies in the St Louis School in Kiltimagh next month.