Dublin Honors Hollywood Legend Maureen O'Hara with Commemorative Plaque at Childhood Home

Number 32 Beechwood Avenue Upper in Ranelagh has been memorialised as the childhood home of iconic Irish actress Maureen O’Hara. A Dublin City Council commemorative plaque was unveiled by Lord Mayor James Geoghegan earlier today.

Speaking at the unveiling, Mayor James Geoghegan said: “It’s extraordinary that it has taken this long to commemorate one of Ranelagh’s most famous residents in Maureen O’Hara. Personally, it is a great honour for me as a Lord Mayor of Dublin who grew up a stone’s throw from Beechwood Avenue to unveil her commemorative plaque here this morning.”

“Many people who live in the area remember well when Maureen formally opened the Ranelagh Arts Festival in 2010, which was a very special event,“ he added. “While Ireland seems to be having a bit of moment in Hollywood right now, Maureen O’Hara was completely unique at that time for an Irish person to have had the success that she had on the silver screen.”

Dr Ruth Barton, professor in film studies at Trinity College Dublin spoke about O’Hara’s importance as a pioneering woman in cinema and her lasting legacy in the world of film.

Born Maureen FitzSimons in 1920, O’Hara went on to become one of the most beloved actresses of her generation, starring in timeless classics like The Quiet Man, Miracle on 34th Street, and How Green Was My Valley.

The film would go on to win an Academy Award for best picture and would result in a longstanding professional relationship between O’Hara and Ford that would last 20 years and include five feature length films.

Maureen O'Hara's Legacy

Known for her fiery red hair, her fierce independence, and her captivating performances, O’Hara left an indelible mark on both Irish and international cinema. The commemorative plaque unveiling at O’Hara’s former home in Ranelagh, where she spent her early years before making her mark on Hollywood, is part of Dublin City Council’s ongoing initiative to celebrate and honour notable Dubliners who have contributed to the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage. The decision to erect the plaque was made by the Dublin City Council Commemorations and Naming Committee. Councillor Dermot Lacey, Chairperson of the South East Area committee proposed that the plaque be erected.

A Lasting Tribute

A PLAQUE COMMEMORATING Irish actress and Hollywood star Maureen O’Hara was unveiled this afternoon at her childhood home in Ranelagh. Number 32, Beechwood Avenue Upper in Ranelagh, Co Dublin has now been memorialised as the childhood home of the actress, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 95.

The Quiet Man would go on to win an Academy Award for best picture and would result in a longstanding professional relationship between O’Hara and director John Ford that would last twenty years and include five feature length films.

Speaking at the unveiling, Lord Mayor James Geoghegan said, “It’s extraordinary that it has taken this long to commemorate one of Ranelagh’s most famous residents in Maureen O’Hara.”

He added that it was a “great honour” to unveil the plaque, as he had grown up near the area. “Many people who live in the area remember well when Maureen formally opened the Ranelagh Arts Festival in 2010, which was a very special event,“ he continued. “While Ireland seems to be having a bit of moment in Hollywood right now, Maureen O’Hara was completely unique at that time for an Irish person to have had the success that she had on the silver screen.”

Professor in film studies at Trinity College Dublin, Dr Ruth Barton, spoke about O’Hara’s importance as a pioneering woman in cinema and her lasting legacy in the world of film at the launch. Known for her fiery red hair, her fierce independence, and her captivating performances, O’Hara left an indelible mark on both Irish and international cinema.

A Dublin Legacy

The Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan did the honours of revealing a plaque for Maureen O'Hara earlier today. The childhood home of the iconic Irish actress, where she spent her early years before making her mark on Hollywood, is part of Dublin City Council’s ongoing initiative to celebrate and honour notable Dubliners who have contributed to the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

The Lasting Legacy of a Star

A new plaque has been unveiled for one of Ireland’s first Hollywood legends Maureen O’Hara. Dublin City Council has dedicated the commemorative plaque to the Irish actress at the place of her birth, number 32 Beechwood Avenue Upper in Ranelagh. The childhood home of the iconic Irish actress, where she spent her early years before making her mark on Hollywood, is part of Dublin City Council’s ongoing initiative to celebrate and honour notable Dubliners who have contributed to the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan did the honours of revealing a plaque for her earlier today. “It’s extraordinary that it has taken this long to commemorate one of Ranelagh’s most famous residents, Maureen O’Hara,” he said. “Personally, it is a great honour for me as a Lord Mayor of Dublin who grew up a stone’s throw from Beechwood Avenue to unveil her commemorative plaque here this morning.” “Many people who live in the area remember well when Maureen formally opened the Ranelagh Arts Festival in 2010, which was a very special event. “While Ireland seems to be having a bit of a moment in Hollywood right now, Maureen O’Hara was completely unique at that time for an Irish person to have had the success that she had on the silver screen.”

Dr Ruth Barton, who is a professor in film studies at Trinity College Dublin also highlighted O’Hara’s importance as a pioneering woman in cinema and her lasting legacy in the world of film. The decision to erect the plaque was made by the Dublin City Council Commemorations and Naming Committee. Cllr Dermot Lacey, Chairperson of the South East Area committee proposed that the plaque be erected.

A Life on the Silver Screen

Born Maureen FitzSimons in 1920, O’Hara went on to become one of the most beloved actresses of her generation. She starred in timeless classics like The Quiet Man, Miracle on 34th Street, and How Green Was My Valley. The film would go on to win an Academy Award for best picture and would result in a longstanding professional relationship between O’Hara and Ford that would last twenty years and include five feature length films.

A commemorative plaque has been unveiled at the Dublin house that was the childhood home of iconic actress Maureen O'Hara. The plaque was unveiled at 32 Beechwood Avenue Upper in Ranelagh this morning by Lord Mayor of Dublin James Geoghegan. O'Hara, who died in 2015 at the age of 95, was a huge star during the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring in timeless classics such as The Quiet Man, Miracle on 34th Street, and How Green Was My Valley. Known for her fiery red hair, her fierce independence, and her captivating performances, the Dublin woman left an indelible mark on both Irish and international cinema. Lord Mayor Geoghegan said: “It’s extraordinary that it has taken this long to commemorate one of Ranelagh’s most famous residents in Maureen O’Hara. “Personally, it is a great honour for me as a Lord Mayor of Dublin who grew up a stone’s throw from Beechwood Avenue to unveil her commemorative plaque here this morning. Many people who live in the area remember well when Maureen formally opened the Ranelagh Arts Festival in 2010, which was a very special event. “While Ireland seems to be having a bit of moment in Hollywood right now, Maureen O’Hara was completely unique at that time for an Irish person to have had the success that she had on the silver screen.”

The commemorative plaque unveiling is part of Dublin City Council’s ongoing initiative to celebrate and honour notable Dubliners who have contributed to the city’s rich cultural and historical heritage. The decision to erect the plaque was made by the Dublin City Council Commemorations & Naming Committee after it was proposed by Cllr Dermot Lacey.