Creatives in Conversation

A special interview with Actress Maureen O.Hara which was recorded at the Galway Film Fleadh and ahead of the publication of her Biography 'Tis Herself'

Maureen FitzSimons (O'Hara) was born the second of six children to Charles and Marguerite FitzSimons on 17 August 1920 in Ranelagh, Co. Dublin. Though tomboyish as a youngster, she eventually developed an interest in acting and as a teenager auditioned for the Abbey Theatre School. Alfred Hitchcock gave her a role in Jamacia Inn in 1939, with Charles Laughton, the English actor who claimed to have "discovered" her. In 1950, director John Ford first paired Maureen with a co-star for his film Rio Grande who would change the direction of her film career forever. John Wayne and she became friends and went on to make four more films together, the most notable being "The Quiet Man" in 1952. Rattlebag caught up with Maureen at the Galway Film Fleadh on the occasion of a special screening of "The Quiet Man" ahead of last month.s launch of her biography, "Tis Herself".

Presenter: Myles Dungan

Producer: Kevin Brew