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Maureen O’Hara returns to location of ‘The Quiet Man’

Star's first visit to Cong since she made the iconic movie with John Wayne

By
James O’Brien,
IrishCentral.com Staff Writer
Published Saturday, August 27, 2011, 8:12 AM
Updated Saturday, August 27, 2011, 8:16 AM

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Maureen O'Hara in Cong.


Almost 60 years after filming the most famous Irish movie of all time there, Maureen O’Hara returned in style to Cong, location of "The Quiet Man," on Friday.

The 91-year-old actress was guest of honor at the first ‘Quiet Man’ festival and she thrilled the crowds who waited hours for her arrival.

Locals clamored for pictures and autographs with the queen of the silver screen who seemed as feisty as she was when she starred opposite John Wayne in the famous film.

She told the crowd that, of all the 80 films she made, "The Quiet Man" was her best because her favorite leading man John Wayne and film director John Ford were working with her.

She also told how she used an Irish phrase, ‘Mala Codlata,’ meaning ‘sleeping bag’ when describing where she slept on the night of her screen wedding to John Wayne.

She described the film as ‘one of the greatest ever made,’ a sentiment happily agreed to by the locals  and many dignitaries who attended.

As the cast and crew did 41 years ago, O'Hara stayed at Ashford Castle. Amazingly, she had never been officially invited back to Cong until yesterday.

She paraded through the streets accompanied by John Wayne’s daughter Marissa Wayne and his granddaughter Laura Monoz Bottini.

“Ireland held a special place in his heart. He always talked about wanting to bring me over here. Unfortunately, we never got to do that together, but I’m thinking he’s here in spirit,” said Marisa who was not born when "The Quiet Man" was made in 1951.

The Quiet Man festival was founded by a local committee to boost tourism and judging by the response it looks like being an annual feature.

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29 Comments

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shenanigans.tri | Aug 29, 2011, 08:48 AM EDT
Good news! I love the film The Quiet Man! Maureen O'Hara is 91yrs. God bless her!

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GincyDooley | Aug 28, 2011, 05:34 PM EDT
John Wayne wasn't supposed to have an Irish accent Carrickcourt. He played an American come to Ireland for a visit.

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manhattan | Aug 28, 2011, 03:07 PM EDT
Ballyhip, why the insulting phase "Toora Loora americans? Well it was one of the so called "Toora Loora's" named John Ford one of America's greatest directors' who out of love and respect for his immigrant parent's homeland he made this film. It showed the irish in a good light which is rare , and if it wasn't for us "Toora Loora's over here, no one would have known about Ireland and would never think of enriching it with tourism.

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OleSarge | Aug 28, 2011, 07:19 AM EDT
Not only the best Irish film, not only the best John Wayne film, but one of the best films ever made!

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Paddyuno | Aug 28, 2011, 05:15 AM EDT
I have been to Cong several times and my wife and I found every single location with the help of the maps in Des MacHale's amazing book "The Complete Guide to The Quiet Man". It was one of my best holidays ever. Then I met Ms O'Hara at a London Book signing in 2004. Fantastic! Paddy Uno

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mayoman | Aug 27, 2011, 10:13 PM EDT
ballyhip: You're really on to something when you say that "The Quiet Man" appeals to "loora loora Americans." Please expand on this, and tell us how over-the-top with sentiment Irish Americans often are, particularly as demonstrated with their adoration of this film.

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bridgetoreilly | Aug 27, 2011, 10:05 PM EDT
Two loveable actors...John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara...loved the movie...visited Ireland in 1999 and saw where the movie was filmed. A classic film.

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Liamkeyes | Aug 27, 2011, 07:53 PM EDT
The movie came out in 1952 before Jet Travel. Many people had'nt been back since they came out...30...40...50 Years, with raising families etc. it was;nt an option to go back on the boat. The theme song 'The Isle of Inisfree" became a big hit. Incidentally, John Wayne's real name was (is) Marion Morrison. Maureen O'Hara was (is) Maureen Fitzsimons.

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ballyhip | Aug 27, 2011, 05:51 PM EDT
Been to Cong many times and fished the river for salmon. Never caught one. Stayed at the old Ryan's Hotel before it was remodeled. Met an English couple who came every year to Cong. They knew the lines of O'Hara and Wayne by heart. BTW, the fight bridge is on the way out of Oughterad on the way toward Maam Cross. Sickenly sweet movie but I can see its appeal to "toora loora" Irish Americans.

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jacersagain | Aug 27, 2011, 05:18 PM EDT
I hope Maureen had a great day in Cong; she certainly looks great for her age! I visited the Quiet Man replica house in Cong once, marvelled at seeing the movie clothes, the living room and that bed! ‘Twas a great experience. I heard back then that the original house of the movie is just outside the village of Cong but it is now a private family house where visitors are not welcome, even curious passers-by! Cong was once an important centre of European learning with a monastery, the ruins of which are still to be seen. I was fascinated to visit the old monastery graveyard, looking at ancient Irish names on the gravestones, the likes of which I have never heard to this day... even as a once-fluent Irish speaker, I had difficulty trying to recognise or pronounce them. The last High King of Ireland, Ruarí Ó Concubhuair (sp?)(Rory O’Connor) is said to have retired to the monastery and to have been buried there but I couldn’t find his grave. Perhaps Maureen, surely the last beautiful Irish High Queen of movies, will allow herself to RIP there...

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moviefan | Aug 27, 2011, 03:30 PM EDT
She looks great! Also, that is NYT Best Selling author Nora Roberts and her husband standing in the background on the right.

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IrishJets47 | Aug 27, 2011, 02:32 PM EDT
As far as one of the best Irish Movies ever made I finally manage to get this movie on DVD, a few years back had to get it special order to get this movie. Maureen O"Hara was great in this picture with is my favorite she did with The Duke. She was in Mclintock with was a okay movie I'm a very big fans of John Wayne I have many of his Movies many favorite are She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Rio Grande with Maureen O'Hara star in this movie with the Duke was done before they did The Quiet Man together. Fort Apache. Rio Bravo, Hondo, and The Searchers with is my favorite of all movie of John Wayne with he should had win a Academy Award for. True Grit with I have Wayne did win a Academy Award for this Picture with I think it was just a ok movie.

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hjolley | Aug 27, 2011, 02:23 PM EDT
Just one small point...Mary Kate did not use the Irish 'Mala Codlata' to describe where SHE slept on her marriage night, but where Sean slept. He's the one who slept in the sleeping bag. Love the movie and love Cong. Can't wait to see the new Quiet Man updates. Last time I was there, we stayed at Squire Danaher's. What a kick!!!

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britfether | Aug 27, 2011, 02:00 PM EDT
It's impossible to really measure the impact that The Quiet Man has had on film history, Irish and American relationships. Being of Irish decent myself, when I visited Ireeland for the first time foue years ago, I could not wait to go to Cong and do some salmon fishing and see the places they filmed, visit the village and have a nice dinner. They we rebuilding the pub highlighted int he film, but I visited the museum store and had a nice talk-up about the movie. we boubhgt some tee shirts that I wear every St. Patrick's Day and a group of pictures from the film and the cast that I have framed and hung in my grand room over the pool table. The movie continues to be the standard of excellence that when seren by people, is often noted with the phprse "they don't make them like than anymore." It is the type of movie that would ber impossible todfay to do a remake because of the uniqueness of the direction and the stars themselves. And it's such a blessing to still be able to still have Ms. OHara with us. I wish her many more years of being able to return to Cong.

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eileend | Aug 27, 2011, 12:40 PM EDT
Carrickcourt. No, you're thinking of Tom Cruise in Far and Away. John Wayne's Sean Thornton was born in Ireland and taken to the US as a baby. He had no Irish accent. Everybody else did just fine, since they were, oh, I don't know, Irish?

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