Maureen O’Hara was born on August 17, 1920, and passed away on October 24, 2015.

Maureen was an Irish-American film actress and singer.

She was first educated at the John Street West Girls’ School near Thomas Street in Dublin’s Liberties Area.

From the ages of 6 to 17 she trained in drama, music and dance, and at the age of 10 joined the Rathmines Theatre Company and worked in amateur theatre in the evenings, after her lessons.

The famously red-headed Maureen was known for playing fiercely passionate heroines with a highly sensible attitude.

She often worked with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne.

Her autobiography, ‘Tis Herself, was published in 2004 and was a New York Times Bestseller.

She was one of the last living actresses from the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Although Maureen was never nominated for a competitive Academy Award, in November 2014 she was presented with an Honorary Academy Award with the inscription “To Maureen O’Hara, one of Hollywood’s brightest stars, whose inspiring performances glowed with passion, warmth and strength”.

Maureen joined Myrna Loy in being the only actresses ever to receive an Academy Award for acting without having been nominated previously.

Maureen was born as Maureen FitzSimons on Beechwood Avenue in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh and attended school in Milltown, Dublin.

She was the second oldest of the six children of Charles Stewart Parnell FitzSimons and Marguerita (nėe Lilburn) FitzSimons.

Her father was in the clothing business and also bought into the Shamrock Rovers Football Club, a team Maureen supported since childhood.

Her mother, a former operatic contralto, was a successful women’s clothier.

Her siblings were Peggy, the oldest, and younger Charles, Florrie, Margot and Jimmy.

Peggy has dedicated her life to a religious order, the Irish Sisters of Charity and taught at an elementary school in Long Beach, California, and the younger children all went on to receive training at the Abbey Theatre and the Ena Mary Burke School of Drama and Elocution in Dublin.

Maureen dream at this time was to be a stage actress.

She was first educated at the John Street West Girls’ School near Thomas Street in Dublin’s Liberties area.

Maureendied at age 95 in October 2015.