I hope you are enjoying St. Patrick’s Day 2021!
Here is an Irish Film/Movie trivia quiz I made for my family during Lockdown 1!
Hope you enjoy!
Thanks for playing!
Follow me on twitter @beanmimo if you like!
Posted in Film, Film History, Film Trivia
Tagged film, irish, movie, St Patrick's Day, Trivia
For those who don’t know me, I, @Beanmimo, have been running social media and twitter accounts for businesses in Ireland since 2012 (50+ campaigns).
The following is my analysis on how well the political parties engaged with social media via twitter on the day of the announcement of #GE2020 – January 14th.
There are several keys to a successful social media presence especially in the face of an election: My criteria are: frequency, focus, precision, consistency, and alignment.
The Twitter conversation is dynamic which means that political account messages need to be sharply focused, correct, strongly aligned with the current contexts and carefully tagged/labelled and connected with each party’s brand, values, and other aspects of their campaign.
Here is my rating of how the political parties have fared in those early stages of their election campaigns on January 14th in relation to their ‘original’ tweets (retweets not taken into account):
In first place are Sinn Fein, tweeted throughout the day with the best balance of Election tweets while also keeping the parties’ other activities front and centre. A fully rounded approach.
Losing points for not having an original announcement text tweet besides their video and failing to add account tags (one) and links (all) for media slots Fianna Fail were the second most organised, well structured and on point throughout the day.
The Labour Party come in a close third, losing out mainly because of no video tweet.
Social Democrats land in fourth place as they hit all the main marks, a written launch post and a video launch – but lost out by not tweeting more frequently and having a typo in one of their tweets.
Fine Gael are in fifth place mainly due to the fact that they should have had a much more prepared and structured approach to the day.
With so much to gain The Green Party should have burst out of the gates but instead they were the last to announce via text tweet shortly followed by a video tweet. This puts them in sixth place.
People Before Profit bring up the rear with only one election related ‘original’ tweet.
(Parties listed alphabetically – Video tweets dealt with separately below)
Declaration of 2020 Irish General Election 2 pm on the 14th January.
@fiannafailparty 37.7K Followers
FF were the earliest party active on twitter.
7 am A tweet about Seán Fleming on RTE’s Morning Ireland.
9.54 am FF Leader Micheál Martin on Pat Kenny NewsTalk.
11.53 am FF shares information about General Election ticket in Cork North Central being completed.
Followed by a number of Election interview slots.
1.04 pm Lisa Chambers TD on RTE News At One.
4.16 pm Marc MacSharry TD on Ivan Yates NewsTalk.
5.40 pm Stephen Donnelly TD on RTE’s Drive Time.
9.20 pm Lisa Chambers TD on RTE PrimeTime.
10.33 pm Dara Calleary TD on Virgin Media One TV.
(Points lost for no original Fianna Fail launch tweet besides video discussed below, RTE’s Morning Ireland account not tagged, no links to radio/tv station spots, not using #GE2020 in first few tweets of the day)
@FineGael 38.5K Followers
1.41 pm Fine Gael chose not to post any actual ‘original’ content but instead shared their party leader – Taoiseach Leo Varadkar‘s tweets.
“The General Election will be held on Saturday February 8th. I hope the Saturday vote will cause less inconvenience to parents than a weekday, and will make it easier for students and people working away from home to vote. Next stop the Áras to see the President ! #LookForward”
Followed by three more retweets (shares) of the Taoiseach’s tweets.
@greenparty_ie 32K Followers
10.05 pm, The Green Party, arguably the party with the most to gain in this election, are the last to pitch in.
Vote to make this the #GreenDecade. #VoteGreen”
(Points lost for not using #GE2020 hashtag and for this being their first tweet of only two ‘original’ posts for the day)
@labour 50.3K Followers
LP shared a Storm Brendan Howlin’ pun from the Sun newspaper followed by an 11.25 am tweet letting their followers know about an upcoming interview with their Dublin South candidate Kevin Humphreys.
11.32 am Senator Ivana Bacik is LP Director of elections.
1.09 pm Senator Ivana Bacik to be on RTE News.
4.41 pm The official election kick off announcement.
“We’re kicking off our General Election campaign – we are ready to build an equal society. 🌹 #GE2020 #AnEqualSociety”
4.44 pm A quote from Leader Brendan Howlin TD’s launch press conference,
Later they let their followers know that LP Leader Brendan Howlin TD would be on RTE Prime Time (will be discussed below).
(Point lost for not taking the frivolous first post down)
@pb4p 11.9K Followers
10.11 am Pb4P criticise to potential dates for the election.
1.22 pm Announcement their election campaign.
“On Saturday Feb 8th vote to break the cycle of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail.
From housing to health we need sensible left policies that work.
Vote for our future. Take it back from the landlord parties. On Feb 8th vote People Before Profit.
#ge20 #GE2020 #ireland”
(Points lost for not capitalising ‘Ireland’ and posting only one election-related ‘original’ tweet)
@sinnfeinireland 99.9K Followers
9.15 am, Declan Kearney welcoming the tackling of sectarianism, but their second 11.09 am was the announcement of Pearse Doherty TD as Director of elections.
11.27 SF start their twitter election campaign.
“#GE2020 is on!
They followed this with two SF committee appointees tweets and information about an upcoming radio appearance by Pearse Doherty TD.
1.33 pm Karen Mullan welcomes £45m education investment.
3.13 pm An election message “This is the first time there will be a General Election on a Saturday since 1918 We topped the poll that day, let’s do it again! Vótáil Sinn Féin #1 #GE2020”
4.34 pm An election message ‘Sinn Féin will give workers and families a break – @MaryLouMcDonald http://sinnfein.ie/contents/55737 #GE2020’
7.03 pm They tweeted about @PaulMaskeyMP calling for the release of Catalan political prisoners.
7.35 pm They informed us of Pearse Doherty’s upcoming appearance on RTE’s Prime Time.
They finished off the night with a tweet about John Finucane MP meeting US political leaders in Washington and from an Irish Diaspora event in London.
@SocDems 17.5K Followers
1.13 pm, the SD’s preempt the 2 pm #GE2020 announcement, with the message
“#GE2020 is a chance for people to change the direction in w which Ireland is going.”
3.25 pm A tweet promoting Cian OCallaghan.
4.13 pm The official announcement their election on twitter.
“#GE2020 Don’t be stuck on the sidelines!
http://socialdemocrats.ie/get-involved”
(Points deducted for not spotting or correcting the typo in their first tweet and lack of more frequent ‘original’ tweets)
@fiannafailparty
7.30 pm FF leader Micheál Martin TD delivers a polished video broadcast.
@FineGael
Videos on the day retweets (shares) of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s tweets – ‘owning’ the party’s election campaign launch perhaps?
4.36 FG’s first video is a strategic clip from the earlier #GE2020 announcement which focuses mainly on the deal on Brexit and what needs to be done next to protect Ireland’s economy.
9.07 The Second FG video is The Taoiseach kicking off the campaign trail from earlier in the afternoon.
(FG have coined their own hashtag for the election #LookForward but lose points for only using the #GE2020 hashtag in one of the video tweets and not having any sort of structured strategy for the day)
@greenparty_ie
10.38 pm Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan delivers a casual video broadcast.
(points lost for no text with video)
@labour
10.28 pm With no official video launch The Labour Party, instead, show a clip of Labour Leader Brendan Howlin TD clashing swords with Simon Coveney on RTE’s Prime Time.
(points lost for no official video launch)
@pb4p
no video
@sinnfeinireland
4.48 pm Leader of Sinn Fein, Mary Lou McDonald TD, gives a visceral opening video launch.
10.37 pm They posted a clip from Pearse Doherty TD’s performance on RTE’s Prime Time.
@SocDems
4.29 A retweet (share) of leader Roisin Shortall’s personable video announcement.
No announcement tweet
Video
117 Retweets
258 Likes
Announcement
199 Retweets
1.3K Likes
Video
42 Retweets
196 Likes
Video 2
70 Retweets
434 Likes
Announcement
27 Retweets
113 Likes
Video
84 Retweets
321 Likes
Announcement
13 Retweets
61 Likes
Video
27 Retweets
68 Likes
Announcement
26 Retweets
53 Likes
no video
Announcement
106 Retweets
292 Likes
Video
230 Retweets
743 Likes
Video 2
516 Retweets
1.8K Likes
Announcement
23 Retweets
31 Likes
Video
55 Retweets
139 Likes
Thanks to Bill Gleeson for letting me know the exact timing of the announcement of the election.
You can follow me @beanmimo on twitter.
Posted in Politics, Uncategorized
Tagged #GE2020, 2020, General Election, Ireland, irish, twitter
They were the first Filmmaking Father and Daughter to be nominated for an Oscar for the same film, which Irish family are we talking about?
Which Irish television series was mentioned in the movie Once as how one of the characters learned to speak English?
In 1961 President Eamon de Valera, who said in his speech: “Never before was there in the hands of men an instrument so powerful to influence the thoughts and actions of the multitude.” What was he talking about?
The daughter of which Irish front man appeared in This Must be the Place?
Which 2012 Irish made film begins with the lines “My story can never be told. I write it over and over, wherever we find shelter. I write of what I cannot speak: the truth. I write all I know of it, then I throw that pages to the wind. Maybe the birds can read it.”?
He was part of a comedy duo, has appeared in a number of highly successful Irish television comedies and played it straight and tragic in Garage, who are we talking about?
Which Irish Actor was offered a role as the first Doctor Who (1962)
Which 2007 Irish television series was a spin-off from “Adam & Paul” (2004)?
Which Irish actor/writer/producer currently enjoying success and television and movies is quoted as saying “I’ve always been conscious of the fact that there aren’t enough Irish voices on British television compared to the amount of Irish people who live there.”
For which British sketch show did Graham Linehan begin his comedy writing career?
(scroll down for answers)
Jim and Kirsten Sheridan were the first filmmaking father and daughter to be nominated for Oscars the same film for In America.
Fair City was mentioned in Once.
Eamon De Valera spoke those word about the opening of RTE on New Year’s Eve of that year.
Eve Hewson, Bono’s daughter was in This Must Be the Place.
Saoirse Ronan speak these words at the beginning of Byzantium.
Pat Shortt played it straight in Garage.
Cyril Cusack turned down the role as the First Doctor Who.
Prosperity was the television spin off of Adam & Paul (both written by Mark O’Halloran and both directed by Lenny Abrahamson).
Chris O’Dowd said those words about the Irish in the UK
Graham Linehan first wrote for Alas Smith and Jones.
Thanks you for reading!
Follow me on Twitter @Beanmimo
If you enjoyed those here are more rounds…
Care of my monthly newsletters from MovieExtras.ie test your random Irish Film Trivia here…
Which Irish writer born on February 2nd was the subject of a biopic in 2000 starring Ewan McGregor?
Which Irish Actor plays Jim Moriarty in the current BBC series Sherlock?
The character Mrs. Brown, famously portrayed by Brendan O’Carroll, has also been played by which actress?
Which 2003 Irish film is as follows… “A hapless civil servant gets more than he bargained for when he moves into an apartment with a gay fashion student and finds himself on the catwalk.”
Which multi-award winning actor is quoted as saying “Interviews are God’s great joke on me.”?
Which Irish Actor had purchased the rights to Gerry Conlon’s book “Proved Innocent” and had intended to play Gerry himself but decided to let Daniel Day-Lewis play the part and just serve as executive producer instead?
My debut was in The Commitments, I have appeared in Father Ted, Dexter, The Tudors Albert Nobbs, Byzantium and more. Which Irish Actress am I?
Which 2014 movie release was shot in Ireland, Afghanistan and Morocco?
The First and Second series of which recent BBC television show employed 5,000 Irish cast, extras and crew and contributed €20m in total to the Irish economy?
Which Irish actor has played Guy Fawkes, a German POW, a character with an interest in Lawrence of Arabia, Carl Jung and a mutant?
The Answers
James Joyce was played by Ewan McGregor
Andrew Scott played Moriarty
Angelica Houston also played the character of Mrs. Browne
Cowboys & Angels was the 2003 film
Daniel Day-Lewis has that attitude to interviews.
Gabriel Byrne was first going to play Gerry Conlon
Maria Doyle Kennedy (the Commitments etc.)
A Thousand Times Goodnight (shot in Afghanistan & Morocco).
Ripper Street contributed 20million to the irish Economy.
Michael Fassbender has played Guy Fawkes etc.
Follow me on Twitter @Beanmimo
Thank you for reading!
If you enjoyed those here are more rounds…
Bedridden bookworm, Ruth Swain, spins a story focused on the paternal genealogy of her family aided by the insights from the inhabitants of her rural Irish village and some famous literary characters.
I am not surprised that this book made the long list for the ManBooker 2014. Niall Williams has created a work which is both deeply insightful, emotionally rich, evoking universal themes through a parochial lens and above all it is so beautifully written that you could imagine that each sentence might have taken a week to sculpt.
While it is set in the present day the story has a classic edge and is told by the agoraphobic, ill-stricken and well-read narrator Ruth as she occupies her time in the attic of her family home trying to paint a literary picture of her father. To do this she explains, she must begin with her Great-Grand Father. We are treated to their rich history which she patches together by borrowing from voices of long dead authors.
Ruth’s narrative is full of lovely ironic humour which underlines the regret she feels her ancestors sensed about their own offspring.
Even though the story is set in post-economic-bust Ireland the style is classic in nature. It is a first person internal monologue from the self-confessed unreliable narration from Ruth. She admits very early on that she knows little about her ancestors but manages to bring them alive through the many references from literary authors, their characters and gossipy allusions from the ‘real’ people who live in her village of Faha. It is these devices which breathes life and grounds William’s novel and its main character.
Like a song the music of the sentences lures you in and like a river the winding story carries you to the end.
Her own character is an amalgam influence of the classic texts of Charles Dickens and Robert Louis Stevenson to which she alludes often. She is externally bitter at her confinement but her softly jumbled internal voice proves that lives can be lived and created through literature. Ruth Swain’s character exemplifies the differences between the way people think and the way we act.
This is a novel about seeking and revealing truths about the world, about families, about community, about isolation, the overcoming of obstacles, loss and about writing.
As well as all of the above “History of the Rain” is a novel that speaks directly to readers and writers about how stories are put together. The allusions to literary characters are treated in such a way that readers familiar with them will warm to their memories but Williams introduces them with a style that will not alienate those unfamiliar with the texts. This combined with the narrator’s comic use of the colloquialisms from her neighbours throughout the story makes the novel in some ways a subtle guide to writing.
He is proving the point that he makes in this sentence which arrives toward the end of the novel.
“Each book is the sum of all the others the writer has read”.
This is a wonderful sum.
8/10
Posted in Books
Tagged 2014, history of the rain, irish, Man Booker, Niall Williams, review
Care of my monthly newsletters from MovieExtras.ie test your random Irish Film Trivia here…
The Questions
Before working with her which Irish actor described Meryl Streep as “that gorgeous blonde I fancied terribly in Drama School.”
How many Irish filming locations were used during the shoot of The Tudors?
Born to an Irish mother and English father, she grew up in USA, Germany and Switzerland. She was named one of Screen Internationals Stars of Tomorrow in 2011, and was awarded the Berlinale Shooting Star award in 2012. Who is she?
In The Commitments one character mockingly sings the theme tune to another of director Alan Parker’s Films, which film is it?
Roddy Doyle has 9 writing credits on IMDB, how many are adaptations of his novels?
Which 2000 Irish film contains this line? “Eamon… women are like microwave ovens. You need them to heat up your noodles, but you have no idea how they work.”
Who played Noel Curley in The General, Maguire in the Crying Game, and Peter in My Left Foot?
How many of director Alan Parker’s films have been set (and shot) in Ireland?
While doing research for what Irish movie did Michael McElhatton find that real prisoners often quoted one of his characters?
My first role was a soldier in Mystic Knights of Tir na Nog, since them I have appeared in Paths to Freedom, Ballykissangel, Batchelor’s Walk, Intermission, This Must be The Place, The Fall, Moone Boy etc. who am I?
Answers
Pierce Brosnan (he worked with Meryl Streep in Mammia Mia!)
The Tudors used 9 Irish Locations
Ardmore Studios, Herbert Road, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland
Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, Christ Church Cathedral, Christchurch, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Drimnagh Castle, Drimnagh, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Castle, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Kilmainham Jail, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Kilruddery House, Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland
(season 4)
People’s Gardens, Phoenix Park, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Powerscourt Estate, Enniskerry, County Wicklow, Ireland
Antonia Campbell-Hughes was the actor in question.
The theme tune mocked in the Committments was Fame
Rodday Doyle had adapted three of his books for the screen, The Commitments, The Snapper and the Van.
The quote was from The Most Fertile Man In Ireland
Adrian Dunbar played those parts in The General, The Crying Gane and My Left Foot.
2 of Alan Parker’s films were shot and based in Ireland The Commitments and Angela’s Ashes.
Michael McElhatton was researching for Spin The Bottle in an Irish Prison when he found out that inmates often quoted his lines. (The character was Rats who had first appeared in the RTE Series Paths To Freedom.)
Simon Delaney is the actor in question.
Thanks for reading,
If you enjoyed those here are a few more rounds…
Care of my monthly newsletters from MovieExtras.ie test your random Irish Film Trivia here…
Which production was shot in Dublin over 34 days in 2011 and starred a leading Hollywood actress who adapted it from a one ‘man’ show?
Which Irish filmed television series was the first small screen appearance for Eva Green?
What connection does the organ like instrument featured in This Must Be The Place have to David Byrne in reality?
Which outspoken Irish actor said this about Ardmore Studios “It’s proximity to Dublin, a myriad of diverse locations, facilities and first rate crews, make it Grade A. It’s track record over the years speaks for itself. Unhesitatingly, I would recommend it as a first class studio”?
Which 1978 Irish filmed movie starred Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Leslie-Ann Downe?
How did Director John Wright help actors Richard Coyle and Ruth Bradley prepare for the filming of ‘Grabbers’?
While Hurricane Hugo was causing extensive damage in Puerto Rico on 18th September 1989 what program did RTE air for the first time?
What is the Costume connection between Northanger Abbey and Becoming Jane?
Name the movie: shot in 2000, in Dublin, cast includes Kate Hudson & Tommy Tiernan?
Name the programme that Dermot Morgan and Pauline McGlynn worked on before Father Ted?
Albert Nobbs was filmed in Dublin (with Glenn Close).
Camelot was where Eva Green made her first screen appearance.
It is based on an installation David Byrne created, where he hooked an organ to old pipes in a a factory allowing people to ‘play the building’.
Gabriel Byrne spoke those words about Ardmore.
The Great Train Robbery starred Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Leslie-Ann Downe.
He got them drunk and then filmed them so that they know how they would have to act drunk in “Grabbers”.
Fair City started on the same day Hurricane Hugo was raging.
The white overdress with pink and green stripes Carey Mulligan (Isabella Thorpe) is wearing when she first meets Catherine Morland in “Northanger Abbey” is the same costume worn by Jessica Ashworth’ (Lucy Lefroy) to the Laverton Fair in “Becoming Jane”.
Hudson & Tiernan appeared in “About Adam”
Morgan & McGlynn worked together on Scrap Saturday (radio)
Thanks for reading,
If you enjoyed those here are a few more rounds…
Care of my monthly newsletters from MovieExtras.ie test your random Irish Film Trivia here…
Eva Birthistle plays Cillian Murphy’s mother in “Breakfast On Pluto”, in reality how many years apart are they in age?
While contracted to play James Bond what specific wardrobe restrictions caused a bit of trouble for Pierce Brosnan’s role in “The Thomas Crown Affair”?
Which Irish Actor summed up acting quite simply as “Be the person I’m playing. That’s what acting is. You’re pretending to be someone else.”?
Which Thaddeus O’Sullivan movie script was altered when he found out about a similar themed John Boorman production?
Which in which Irish film starring Brendan Gleeson did the director ask Calexico if would they write part of the score to sound like Ennio Morricone?
Which Irish Film did the late Roger Ebert describe as “ a very funny movie about the people packed into small houses on a small street in a tight little neighborhood in Ireland.”
How is the Irish made title “Nothing Personal” connected to the years 1995 and 2009?
Which Irish made film started out when Martin Sheen was given a book at the celebration of what would have been his late Mother’s 100 Birthday?
Which Irish actor has played the following characters; Danny, Liam, Jason, Ray, Tim, Nicky, Billy and Burglar 1 etc.?
Which Lenny Abrahamson film made the 2013 European Film Award’s Film Selection long list?
While she played his mother in “Breakfast On Pluto” Eva Birthistle is only 2 years older than Cillian Murphy.
The Bond contract forbade him to wear a tuxedo in any other films.
Saoirse Ronan spoke those words about acting.
“Ordinary Decent Criminal” (O’Sullivan’s film was going to be directly about Martin Cahill until they found out about Boorman’s “The General”)
“The Guard” had music written by Calexico made to sound like Ennio Morricone.
The Snapper was described thus by Roger Ebert.
Two different films of the same name “Nothing Personal” made in Ireland in those two years.
“Stella Days” was the film eventually made with Martin Sheen.
Robert Sheehan played all of those characters.
“What Richard Did” made the 2013 European Awards Selection Long List.
Thanks for reading, if you enjoyed those here are a few more rounds…
Advance screening courtesy of beActive
Six people are transported into the future and find themselves at CERN in Switzerland in the year 2018 only to discover that the Earth is a poisoned Post-Apocalyptic wasteland. Their goal is to reach the CERN Collider and set it in motion with the chance that it will send them back to their own time and change their own histories and that of the earth as well.
Collider is adapted from a graphic novel of the same name. From a birds eye view the plot is a cross between Twelve Monkeys and Pitch Black. The six characters philosophise whether they have been given a chance to rewrite their own histories but first they must learn to trust each other while battling vaguely unnspecified elements that have all but killed the population of the earth. It is a mish-mash of familiar sci-fi themes but from the trailer there was enough to pique the interest of any sci-fi fan.
Sadly the lack of originality is only one of the problems for this film. The initial fault has to lie with writer Nuno Bernardo who is also a producer. The screenplay is full of plot holes, dialogue that tells us what is happening as opposed to letting us work it out for ourselves, self-aware stereotypical characters and a story that in many places simply does not make sense.
But the Collider film was originally a graphic novel and is only part of the puzzle, as it is being launched across several platforms, including, webisodes and an app/game. Perhaps it makes more sense when viewed in conjunction with them but as a stand-alone film it is more than disappointing.
This is the third sci-fi either filmed in Ireland or written and directed by Irish people since 2012. In this order Lockout, Earthbound, and now Collider have become progressively worse. Despite Lockout’s cheesy script matched only by Guy Pearce’s cheesy performance it was a bit of fun as long as you left your brain at the door and filled your head with popcorn, with slick production values in other areas like direction and camerawork. Earthbound was a sweet love story with screenplay, continuity and perhaps budget concerns.
We have more than enough talent in front of and behind the camera and there will be a time soon when Ireland will produce a decent sci-fi!
1/10
Collider is in Irish cinemas now
In a late follow up to my Every Irish Winner At The Academy Awards – The Oscars! post I have compiled this list.
You will notice that many of the below stars were inducted on the same date; this is because the Walk of Fame was only brought to life in the years preceding 1960. The actors are listed alphabetically.
March 1899 (Offaly) – May 1979 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
The favourite leading man of star actress Bette Davis, was born George Brendan Nolan, near Dublin, and became an orphan at the tender age of eleven. For a while, he stayed with an aunt in New York, but returned to Ireland to study at the University of Dublin. After leaving university in 1919 he had developed an interest in acting and joined the Abbey Theatre Players. Then he returned to New York and acted on the stage until 1930 when he began his career in Hollywood.
At first he had walk on parts until his talent as a leading man was spotted and he went on to specialise playing dapper, sophisticated gentlemen, Brent gave reliable support to stars like Greta Garbo, Hedy Lamarr, Barbara Stanwyck and eleven times with Bette Davis
Best known for Dark Victory (1939), Jezebel (1938), 42nd Street (1933), and The Spiral Staircase (1945).
Trivia
Brent became a courier for Sinn Fein leader Michael Collins, hunted by the Black and Tan, with a price on his head.
May 1953 (Meath)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on December 3, 1997
Pierce Brosnan was born in Navan, County Meath, Ireland, he moved to England, UK, at an early age (thus explaining his ability to play men from both backgrounds convincingly). His father left the household when Pierce was a child and although reunited later in life, the two have never had a close relationship.
Best known for the role is that of British secret agent James Bond. He played the character in four outings.
Trivia
Is a fan of Doctor Who since 1963.
February 1901 (Armagh) – April 1972 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
Donlevy lied about his age (he was actually 14) in 1916 so he could join the army, it looked like he was going to be a military man as he survived forays into Mexico and spent time as a pilot which gained him honourary membership with the Lafayette Escadrille, a unit of the French Air Force comprised of American and Canadian pilots but gave it all up to act on the stage which led him to Hollywood.
Best known for his roles in Dangerous Assignment (1952), Kiss of Death (1947), Wake Island (1942), and The Quatermass Xperiment (1955).
Trivia
He was William Holden’s best man at his 1941 wedding to Brenda Marshall.
March 1888 (Dublin) – January 1961 (Dublin)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
One of Hollywood’s finest character actors and most accomplished scene stealers, Barry Fitzgerald was born William Joseph Shields. Educated to enter the banking business, the diminutive Irishman with the irresistible brogue was bitten by the acting bug in the 1920s and joined Dublin’s world-famous Abbey Players. It was his performance in Juno and the Paycock that caught the eye of Alfred Hitckcock who was planning a film of the play that brought Fitzgerald to Hollywood.
Best known for his roles in The Quiet Man (1952), Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Naked City (1948), and And Then There Were None (1945).
Trivia
He broke the head off his ‘Best Supporting Actor’ Oscar for Going My Way (1944) practicing his golf swing.
November 1913 (Wicklow) – July 2005 (New York)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
She made her theatrical debut at Dublin’s renowned Gate Theatre in 1932. She appeared in English films from 1934 to 1937 before emigrating to New York City, where she acted with Orson Welles (who had appeared at the Gate when he was all of 16 years old as a protégé of Micheál MacLiammóir). In 1938 she made her Broadway debut with Welles’ Mercury Theater in their production of George Bernard Shaw’s Heartbreak House, soon after she was signed by a Warner Bros. talent scout and decamped to Hollywood.
Best known for Arthur (1981), The Pawnbroker (1964), Dark Victory (1939), and Wuthering Heights (1939).
Trivia
She was the only actress to appear as both Laurence Olivier’s wife and Rodney Dangerfield’s mother-in-law.
May 1889 (Cork) – August 1965 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
Born Patrick Creighton Hale Fitzgerald in Cork, Ireland, Creighton came to America with a troupe of actors in the early years of the 20th century, and quickly established himself as a leading man on Broadway. In 1914, he made his first trip out west, where he became a featured player in The Exploits of Elaine, a weekly serial that turned out to be one of the biggest hits of the year. He settled on Hollywood and became a star of the silent screen.
Best known for his roles in The Cat and the Canary (1927), Orphans of the Storm (1921), The Marriage Circle (1924), and Snow White (1916).
Trivia
His starring roles decreased as sound was introduced to film and from the late 1920s onward he mainly appeared in walk on parts.
January 1892 (Dublin) – July 1950 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
Ingram was born Reginald Ingram Montgomery Hitchcock. Despite his athleticism, Rex was a loner and a rebel once challenging a master “to lay down his master’s robes and come out behind the ‘gym’ and see who is the better man.” Rex’s mother Kathleen Ingram died when he was fifteen. Either as a consequence of failing to gain a place at Trinity College Dublin or maybe because of his intrinsic restlessness, and the lack of opportunity in a small country, Rex left Ireland in 1911, never to return. In New York he met Charles Edison (son of Thomas Edison) and began working for the Edison Company. Smitten by early cinema he started to work in from of and behind the camera and soon showed his talent for directing. At the height of his fame his name was mentioned in the same breath as early greats such as D.W. Griffith, and Erich von Stroheim.
Best known for directing The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1921)
Trivia
Rex quarreled with Louis B. Mayer soon after he joined MGM. Subsequently he just put “Metro-Goldwyn presents …” on his pictures with no mention of Mayer.
December 1884 (Dublin) – April 1964 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
Kerrigan was born in Dublin, Ireland. He worked as a newspaper reporter until 1907 when he joined the famous Abbey Players. There he became a stalwart, appearing in plays by Lady Gregory, William Butler Yeats and John Millington Synge. His first screen appearance was in the silent film Food of Love in 1916. Before moving to Hollywood he was appearing on Broadway, often in plays by Shakespeare, Ibsen, and Sheridan during the 1920s.
Best known for his roles in Gone with the Wind (1939), 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), The Wolf Man (1941), and The Informer (1935)
Trivia
Supported Dublin football club Bohemian FC.
January 1888 (Meath) – January 1960 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
Matt, his brothers, Tom, Owen, Joe and his sister Mary Moore emigrated to the United States. They all went on to successful movie careers. Once his brothers made a name for themselves, Moore made his debut in the role as the minister in the silent short Tangled Relations (1912) starring Florence Lawrence and Owen Moore.
Best known for his roles in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), Coquette (1929), The Unholy Three (1925), and The Front Page (1931)
Trivia
He appeared in over 200 films from 1912 to 1958
December 1886 (Meath) – June 1939 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
A virile and dashing silent screen idol Owen Moore, equipped with incredibly handsome reddish and ruddy features, came to America with his family from Ireland at age 11. After some stage work, he entered films at the Biograph Studio in 1908 and appeared in many of D.W. Griffith’s early productions. Owen was Mary Pickford’s stylish leading man in her early career-starters.
Best known for his roles in A Star Is Born (1937), She Done Him Wrong (1933), The Red Mill (1927), and Cinderella (1914).
Trivia
Moore was secretly married to Mary Pickford before she left him for Douglass Fairbanks Jnr.
May 1883 (Meath) – February 1955 (California)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
Brother of Owen and Matt, his success in Hollywood was as both actor and director starting with a job with Kalem Film Manufacturing Company in 1913. He was married to Elinor Merry, Renée Adorée and Alice Joyce (but not all at once).
Best known for his roles in Manhandled (1924), The Woman Racket (1930) and Side Street (1929)
Trivia
He was the Oldest of The Moore Sibling acting dynasty.
August 1920 (Dublin)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 8, 1960
Maureen O’Hara was born as Maureen FitzSimons. When she was a young teenager, she joined Dublin’s prestigious Abbey Theatre School. She graduated in 1937 and was offered a lead role with the Abbey Players, but instead moved to London and tried her hand at film acting. She screen tested for an un-produced English feature and caught the attention of Oscar-winning movie star and producer Charles Laughton. After convincing Maureen to change her surname to O’Hara, Laughton helped launch her career by recommending her for the role of the orphaned Mary Yelland in Alfred Hitchcock’s British-made film Jamaica Inn (1939). Although the film met with lackluster reviews, O’Hara was noted for her convincing performance. By 1939 Laughton had her signed a with RKO Studios which began her massively successful Hollywood career
Best known for her roles in for Miracle on 34th Street (1947), The Quiet Man (1952), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Parent Trap (1961).
Trivia
She is quoted as saying “I made John Wayne sexy. I take credit for that.”
May 1911 (Roscommon) – June 1998 (Arizona)
Inducted to the Walk of Fame on February 27, 1991
At the age of nine she intended to become a pilot. After more school in Paris, back in Dublin, she met director Frank Borzage who was doing location filming for Fox and who invited her to Hollywood where she arrived, accompanied by her mother, in 1930.
Best known for her roles in Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), The Thin Man (1934), Tarzan and His Mate (1934), and Tarzan the Ape Man (1932).
Trivia
O’Sullivan was Mia Farrow’s Mother and was in school with Vivien Leigh in London.
In June 2013 the list with next year’s stars to be honoured was announced, Liam Neeson was among the names!
Photos and References
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