Campaign to fund €8.6m Maureen O’Hara centre

FUNDRAISING is to start in the US within the next six weeks to help build a €8.6 million centre in west Cork which will be dedicated to one of Hollywood’s living legends.

The Maureen O’Hara Foundation, named in honour of the star of numerous blockbusters, including The Quiet Man, is planning to build the centre in Glengarriff which will house her personal movie memorabilia and that of other great stars.

It will also provide a focal point for movie production in Ireland and provide year-round courses in all the arts associated with film-making.

Frank McCarthy, the foundation’s chief executive, said the non-profit organisation has secured tax exemption status in the US, which would make donations tax deductible.

The foundation is seeking the same status here.

Mr McCarthy said he had recently visited the US and found “immense support from businesses” who wanted to help Ms O’Hara build her dream in Glengarriff, where she has become a key member of the community.

The star, who will celebrate her 91st birthday in August, bought a house in the village in 1968 with her late husband, the celebrated aviator Brigadier General Charles F Blair.

Mr McCarthy said Cork County Council had generously agreed to hand over, for free, 1.5 acres of land it owns in the village.

The land, adjacent to Quill’s, was believed to be worth around €750,000.

The centre, expected to open in 2014, will also house a 130-seat auditorium.

Mr McCarthy said it would house the Maureen O’Hara International Film Academy which would provide a platform for the film-makers of the future.

“The academy will provide year-round courses in all the arts associated with film-making. Our suite of courses will be accredited by leading national and international institutions.

“The vibrant regional amateur dramatic culture will significantly benefit from our extensive programmes. The involvement of education programmes for our youth will be a vital element to ensure the survival of the academy into the future.”

He said it was planned to provide a range of courses in acting, script writing, stage attitude, sound, movement, drama, dance, costume making, stage make-up, auditorium technique, set design etc.

“Our aim will be to provide a film school focusing on the needs of a new generation of artists where all the technical and performance aspects of the arts are shared,” Mr McCarthy added.

It is also intended to create a school of puppetry on the site.