Dublin City Council unveils plaque dedicated to Hollywood Legend Maureen O’Hara

James Cox

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.

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.