Irish theatre legend Potter takes her final bow

Dan Buckley

One of Ireland’s most enduring stars, actress and comedienne Maureen Potter, died early yesterday at her home in Clontarf, Dublin, aged 79.

A star of pantomime on the Dublin stage and well-known to generations of Irish theatre-goers, she was made a freeman of the city and had also been honoured with a doctorate by Trinity College.

Her first professional engagement was at the age of seven, but later she went on to establish herself as both a serious and comic actress.

As well as pantomime and revues, she featured in works by Sean O’Casey, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett.

Four years ago, President Mary McAleese attended a special tribute to Ms Potter, as and the actress became the first star to place her handprints in a ‘walk of fame’ outside Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre.

Leading the many tributes to her yesterday, the President described the actress’s unique status among Ireland’s theatrical elite.

“The very mention of Maureen Potter summons up happy memories for each person who enjoyed her wonderful performances.

“Her brilliance, her sparkle and her personality will be missed throughout Ireland,” Mrs McAleese added.

That brilliance was evident from an early age and in 1938 it even impressed the Führer. Child stars were a novelty in Germany and she had been touring the continent with impresario Jack Hylton and his orchestra. She later recalled performing before Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders and the moment when Goebbels and Göring came backstage to meet her and present her with a silver and blue wreath: “It came with some words on it from Hitler himself.”

Her mother was not impressed. “When I got home I gave it to her and she said, ‘that filthy man, Hitler’, and threw it in the bin.”

Maureen enriched the lives of generations of theatre-goers and for many people she was their introduction to theatre. A survivor of the great age of variety, she performed in revues, cabaret, political satire and, while synonymous with pantomime, she also appeared in a range of theatrical roles.

John Costigan, managing director of the Gaiety Theatre, described her as the “Great Dame of South Kings Street”. She had performed on stage there for 60 years, from her debut in 1939 to her retirement in 1999.

Her first taste of the panto came in 1935 following an audition with entertainer Jimmy O’Dea who had seen her in a concert party at Bray. She appeared in his version of Jack And The Beanstalk, playing a fairy.

Her first Gaiety performance was in Jimmy and the Leprechaun and she went on to appear in numerous pantomimes, theatre productions and the hugely popular Gaels of Laughter, which ran from 1965 for 15 years.

Maureen’s last appearance on the Gaiety stage was on January 18, 1999, during a special tribute performance to the actress, and she continued to consider the theatre her “second home”, playing a key role in the theatre’s Millennium works restorations.

“No conversation about the Gaiety ever takes place without Maureen being mentioned. She is as much a part of Ireland’s stage history as the building itself,” said Mr Costigan.

“The last occasion that she graced us with her incredible presence was to unveil her handprints on the pavement in front of the theatre. I felt an incredible pride to be in a room with this amazing woman, people crowding around her and listening to her every word. The Gaiety will miss her dearly, and the laughter that rose out from the auditorium whenever she stepped out under the lights.”

Niall Toibín, a close friend, also remembered her with fondness. “She embodied the spirit of Dublin and will be sadly missed,” he said.

Arts Minister John O’Donoghue said her iconic status in Irish showbusiness was well deserved.

“We will be much the poorer for her passing,” he added.

“She spoiled it for all of us really,” recalled fellow comedienne Pauline McLynn. “She could sing, dance and act and she made it look easy.”

Maureen Potter is survived by her husband Jack, and sons Johnny and Hugh O’Leary.