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Galway Advertiser 1986/1986_11_20/GA_20111986_E1_001.pdf
Galuiay
Vol. 17. No. 47. Thursday, 20th November, 1986
SIOBHAN M c K E N N A LAID T O REST AT R A H O O N
Is Your Business On Galway's Christmas Tree?
T H E Galway Advertiser will again raise its Christmas Tree, t h e popular n e w concept in C h r i s t m a s advertising, o n D e c e m b e r 4th in g o o d time for the C h r i s t m a s s h o p ping festival. T h e Christmas Tree, a full colour s u p p l e m e n t with t h e Galway Advertiser, will b e p a c k e d with s e a s o n a l items, competitions a n d fun for all the family It is the ideal publication to p r o m o t e y o u r business.
ON THE SIDE . ..
G a l w a y h a s amazing atmosphere It's extra ordinary to walk d o w n some o f the winding streets with the hoodmouldings over windows. It's a mediaeval citv in many respects. It's i m p o r t a n t t h a i that character is maintained. New buildings should not take from the tecling of the streets but ideally should enhance them". T h i s is basically the belief o f the new City Planning Officer, John Roche, w h o recently took over from Jim Reagan. Mr. Roche is a Wicklow man and before his Galway appointment was Planning Officer in D u n Laoghaire. " T h e main difference between the t w o centres is that Dun Laoghaire is a suburb o f a City whereas Galway is an entity in itself, with three times the land area".
Our representatives are calng on you. For best positions -- Tel. 091/67077
City Pays Tribute to Ireland's Greatest Actress
A l o n e a r m y p i p e r l e d t h e coffin c o n t a i n i n g t h e r e m a i n s of I r e l a n d ' s f o r e m o s t a c t r e s s S i o b h a n M c K e n n a to rest a t h e r p a r e n t s g r a v e a t R a h o o n Cemetery on T u e s d a y evening. T h e rain t e a m e d d o w n a n d a c a n o p y o f umbrellas g r e w up a r o u n d the open g r o u n d . T h e r e w e r e l i t e r a l l y b e d s of flowers a n d w r e a t h s a n d despite the awful w e a t h e r a b o u t 2 0 0 p e o p l e , many of t h e m theatrical friends, g a t h e r e d to p a y t h e i r l a s t r e s p e c t s . Earlier in the afternoon at 3.20 p.m. the hearse and family mourners arrived from Dublin. They were met at Eyre Square by the Mayor Aid. John Mulholland and City Councillors in full robes. The City Sword and Mace were carried. The President of U . C . G . Dr. Colm O hEocha and members of the Academic staff, also in robes, joined the Mayor and walked in procession through the city to the Taibhdhearc Theatre in Middle Street where Siobhan McKenna b e g a n her distin guished career in the 1940's. They were joined by the members of Druid and Taibhdhearc companies.
From there the cortage m o v e d to Shantalla R o a d and paused outside her former family h o m e at Eyre Fort H o u s e . A t the foot of Rahoon a large number of the U.C.G. Graduates Association formed a guard of honour and escorted the hearse on the last stage where it was met at the gates of the cemetery by Bishop Eamon Casey LOVED GALWAY At the graveside an old family friend Sean Horan spoke of how Siobhan had begun her acting career in Galway and had finished it here "Although she was born in Belfast she c a m e to love G a l w a y and n o w she has c o m e h o m e for g o o d . " As the rain poured d o w n Mr Horan said that when Siobhan had buried her mother here in 1952 she said that she would also like to be buried here "as it was so sunny". Playwright and author Brien Friel also spoke. H e said Siobhan McKenna was" the pre-eminent Irish star and totally personified the ideal of Ireland "by her l o v e of the language and civil liberties S h e had a regal bearing on stage "
SCHOOL DAY MEMORIES... W h e n Siobhan McKenna finished her Inter Cert at Taylor's Hill s h e was expelled for joining with others in a Students Rag Week Parade. Unfor tunately, a bag of flour was thrown at a nun and Siobhan and 13 others w e r e asked to find an alternative school. Siobhan was quite undisturbed by the incident and was delighted to g o as a boarder to St. Louis Convent, Monaghan. T h e r e she met Maureen Kenny who was also to make her life in Galway. Mrs. K e n n y said that although Siobhan inherited her father's mathematical mind she had a gift for languages and for having fun. IRELAND ALMOST LOST ITS F I N E S T A C T R E S S TO THE CHURCH The Sisters at St. Louis have fond memories of her. Sister Phelim Molloy told the Advertiser on Monday that Siobhan would be remembered for her great sense of humour and wonderful talent as a mimic.
"She had a marvellous gift for drama and produced playlets in her classroom. S h e translated C h a r l i e s Aunt into Irish and when she played the lead role in "Geisha" w e were all told that this young girl would be a star o n e day." Sister Molloy said that her father was anxious she concentrated on her maths "Siobhan was an honours maths student but also tops at languages and literature. She was a b o m leader in the class, captain of the Camogie team and e v e r y o n e was impressed by her. Although she was full of tricks there w a s never anything offensive in what she did" One fact not generally known w a s that Siobhan was so touched by the goodness of the St. Louis sisters she wanted to join the Order. In fact she did do so and when after a few months she met her father in her postulants habit her father. Prof. Eoghan McKenna, "kidnapped" her and bundled her into his car. He told her that if she felt the s a m e in one year's time she could return. Siobhan, of course, devoted her life to the theatre instead. FIRST STEPS O N S T A G E The well known Galway character actor Billy O'Connor told the Advertiser of Siobhan s first appearance at An Taibhdhearc. "Walter Macken cast her as Lady M c B e t h and she received very g o o d notice in the Irish Independent ( T h e three
witches in that memorable 1943 production were played by Billy O ' C o n n o r , Peggy Macken and Patsy M a d d e n ) . Siobhan's last play in A n Taibhdhearc was the lead in J. N . Barries' M a r y Rose where again she received g o o d reviews. She went straight to the A b b e y then. "I remember her then as a young person, full of fun. A n d she always remained the same," said Mr. O ' C o n n o r this w e e k . TRIBUTES FROM D R U I D Playright T o m Murphy. Druid Theatre Company and Siobhan McKenna enjoyed an extraordinary c o l l a b o r a t i o n with their recent play Bailegangaire which has been acclaimed wherever it was performed. Gary H y n e s . on behalf of Druid, paid the following tribute to Siobhan McKenna. "With the passing part of all of us is gone Her great talent, profound dignity, intelligence and the warmth of her personality g a v e her a unique voice which was an inspiration for all of us. Working with her on Bailegangaire in the last year w e in Druid grew t o love her very much. Ni bheidh a leithead
JOHN R O C H E t h e new S e n i o r C o r p oration Executive (Planning). Although M r . Roche is very careful to be non partisan in his attitudes to official planning he is pleased the City D e v e l opment Plan will reflect the wishes o f the people. " T h e whole basis o f the Plan is to give the people a voice as to the kind o f environment they want". Technical advice is given to the Council, A n For as Forbartha play a role in the initial stages of the Plan but then it's presented to the Council and in turn shown for public comment. T h e five year review o f the City Development Plan was presented to the City Council on Monday. "The same principles will probably still apply", said M r . Roche. "I t h i n k it's good planning to continue the mix o f commercial and residential development. There arc many indica tions that residents like this. T h e y don't want a City that closes down at night when everyone goes home at rj p.m How we achieve this mix is for the Councillors and ultimately the people to decide. But there probably won't he any dramatic change i n the objectives o f the previous Plan". M r . Roche would not comment on the so called "Galway disease" o f Sections 4--whereby a ( ouncil majority can compel the County Manager to r e d n d a decision o f the Plan--as it was not his place to But he did insist that the essence o f all planning was to reflect the desjres o f the people. "The rule of t h u s * is--see what the people have t o say".
SIOBHAN'S LAST JOURNEY
See P a g e 12.
LOUISE K E N N E D Y See the beautiful Coats and Suits in McNutt tweeds and pure wool Jackets and Skirts by Emblem Weavers. In happier times - Siobhan McKenna discusses a scene from Tom Murphy's new play B a i l e g a n g a i r e with Druid's Artistic Director Gary Hynes. The play was a sensational success and Siobhan's last.
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