Thousands celebrate The Quiet Man’s 60th
Ms O’Hara, 91, was last night welcomed back by a Quiet Man-themed parade, as residents of the Co Mayo village and even a handful of surviving extras from the classic movie dressed up in period costume and made their way from the Catholic Church to the Celtic Cross.
The welcome parade, which was led by a pipe band, marked the start of a special festival to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the movie, which also starred John Wayne.
Both O’Hara, who played Kate Danaher in the movie, and Dana, who is chaperoning her for the weekend, were due to give speeches last night.
But organiser Gerry Collins said the most poignant moment took place on Thursday night, as the veteran actress arrived back in town.
He said: “As Maureen crossed the bridge into Cong, there was a bolt of thunder. It reminded her of the courting scene in the cemetery with John Wayne. I’m told she was extremely moved by it and saw it as a special scene. As soon as she heard it, all the old memories came flooding back.”
O’Hara, who lives in Glengarriff in West Cork, is staying in the same room at plush Ashford Castle as she did 60 years ago when she arrived to film the movie under Hollywood director John Ford.
She will also be feted during the three-day festival by singers Daniel O’Donnell and Tommy Fleming.
Mr Collins, is the local authority on The Quiet Man, running a museum dedicated to the movie, leading film tours and operating his themed B&B, said he expects it to be Cong’s busiest weekend since the original movie crew arrived in town.
More than 4,000 film fans, many travelling in from the US, have already flocked to the picturesque village, which is fully booked out.
“Maureen is delighted to be back and is on top form, but it’s also very emotional for her.
“She doesn’t look too different to how she did all those years ago. She has a timeless beauty.”
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