Terry Prone: Falling for a dancer — but Patricia Ward wasn’t even aware of Gene Kelly’s career

A young gold-digger who took control of a former star... But no... This isn't that kind of story. Instead, pause a while and listen to a woman who loved a great man and cherishes his menory

Patricia Ward Kelly with Ballet Ireland dancers Niamh O’Flannagain, Herman Keim, and Julia Razquin Gómara ahead of ‘Bold Moves’ which runs from April 16 to 23 in the O’Reilly Theatre, Belvedere College, Dublin. Picture: Conor Healy

Booted, tweed-suited, with a boy-cut French gamin haircut, the minute she arrived, you felt that maybe you should know her.

She had presence, but not the immediate recognisability of a film star. She introduced herself to others in the TV green room.  Patricia Ward Kelly. Widow of Singin’ In The Rain dancing superstar Gene Kelly. In the studios to promote a show based on Kelly’s inspired choreography.