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A local group is appealing to the Galway County Council to put a preservation order on a house made famous by a 1951 blockbuster.

The earliest reference to ‘moving pictures’ in Galway that I have come across dates from 1909, when The Enterprise Animated Picture Company came to the Court Theatre in Middle Street with its cinematography performances and variety entertainments. “Rarely has such an opportunity been given to the people of Galway of viewing in animated pictures the most sensational events of real life and drama. Those from real life included Boxing Champions and Logging in Sweden, while other titles included Nocturnal Thieves, A Constable Please, The Pony Express, and Fairy Presents. The pictures come in ever-changing variety and there are no exasperating delays.” The Court Theatre had 500 seats and was also known as The Racquet Court.

At last filming The Quiet Man began in June 1951, during one of the sunniest summers on record. Everything went smoothly. There was a genuine outpouring of goodwill from the people of Cong and everywhere in Ireland, towards the project. The crew and cast were happy. The actors were generous with signing autographs, making guest appearances at charity events, and had an excellent working relationship with the director John Ford. Ford was in wonderful good form. He had exorcised his war ghosts by making an astonishing 10 movies in only six years. Now he was relaxed and cheerful, beaming to be in Ireland with great actors, many of whom were his friends, and a script which he clearly liked. He had already worked out changes which he had discussed with his friend and adviser Brian Desmond Hurst in their rented house in Spiddal.

Week II

Galway-born actor Peter O’Toole joined the ranks of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars at the weekend when he added his hand and footprints to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The much-loved Irish actress Maureen O’Hara was in Kilkenny this week for the launch of the Kilkenny Age-Friendly County Strategy, in the Ormonde Hotel on Tuesday afternoon.

Our image today is of an original drawing done in 1958 by Belfast artist Raymond Piper (now deceased) of the beautiful staircase in the Great Southern Hotel. When one entered the hotel, the reception desk was to the left, there was a small corridor leading to the dining room on the left, and another leading to the bar on the right. Just past these was a comfortable lounge area, and at the end of this was this magnificent staircase leading to reception rooms upstairs, and directly to the station platform.

HIT SINGER /songwriter Mick Hanly and guitar virtuoso Arty McGlynn play The Crane next week: Be sure to catch them.

James Bond star Roger Moore is to shoot a romantic comedy in Mayo.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?