O’Hara to mark Quiet Man’s 60th year
The legendary Hollywood star, who starred alongside John Wayne in the iconic movie, is said to be “full of emotion”, as she prepares to visit the picturesque Co Mayo village.
O’Hara, 91, will be chaperoned by Dana, who is a friend of hers, throughout the three-day festival and will stay in the same room at plush Ashford Castle as she did 60 years ago when the movie was being shot.
She will also be feted by other celebrity guests, including singers Daniel O’Donnell and Tommy Fleming, and Marisa Wayne, daughter of O’Hara’s co-star in the epic film.
Although Cong has been reaping the benefits of the movie’s legacy in the six decades since director John Ford arrived in 1951, the veteran actress, who lives in Glengarriff, Co. Cork, has only returned a handful of times, including her last visit 12 years ago.
This time O’Hara will retrace the landmarks where she shot her most famous scenes in a personal tour next Saturday and will be reunited with the handful of surviving extras who worked with her.
Gerry Collins, who juggles running The Quiet Man museum, film tours and his themed B&B, said: “It’s definitely going to be the biggest thing to have happened here since the film itself. The village is booked out.”
One special event being planned is to recreate the historic moment when Cong’s electricity was turned on for the first time, one of the major benefits that came with the arrival of the film crew.
The festival runs from August 26 to 28.
