Maureen Barry O'Delany (1 December 1888 – 27 March 1961), professionally known as Maureen Delany and also billed as Maureen Delaney, was an Irish stage actress and screen actress of British films [1][2]

Maureen Delany
Born
Maureen Barry O'Delany

(1888-12-01)1 December 1888
Died27 May 1961(1961-05-27) (aged 72)
London, England
Other namesDaisy Delany
Occupation(s)Stage and screen actress
SpousePeter O'Neil

Life and career

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She was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, daughter of Barry Delany, who died when she was three months old. She was educated in Galway and originally intended to train for the opera, as she had a fine singing voice. However, she was accepted into the Abbey School of Acting by Lennox Robinson. She made her debut on the stage in Edward McNulty's comedy The Lord Mayor in 1914.[3]

She quickly gained a reputation as a noted comic actress and singer. She became identified with Maisie Madigan in Juno and the Paycock and Bessie Burgess in The Plough and the Stars (both by Seán O'Casey), as well as the Widow Quin in Synge's Playboy of the Western World.[3] In 1959 she was nominated for a Tony Award for her part in the play God and Kate Murphy.[4]

She also appeared in a number of plays by Irish playwright Teresa Deevy which were staged at the Abbey Theatre, A Disciple[5] in 1931, Temporal Powers[6] in 1932, Katie Roche[7] in 1937, which toured to the Ambassador Theatre, New York, USA, this play also toured to the Arts Theatre, Cambridge, England also in 1937,[8] Temporal Powers[9] in 1937, In Search of Valour[10] in 1947. She died in her room at a London Hotel on 27 March 1961 and was predeceased by her husband Peter O'Neill, whom she married about 1947; there were no children.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1924 Land of Her Fathers
1935 His Family Tree Nellie Oulihan
1947 Odd Man Out Theresa O'Brien
Captain Boycott Mrs Davin
1948 The Mark of Cain Daisy Cobb
So Evil My Love Curtis
1948 Another Shore Mrs Gleeson
1949 Saints and Sinners Postmistress Uncredited
Under Capricorn Flo
1950 Night and the City Anna O'Leary (Blackmarket) Uncredited
1952 The Holly and the Ivy Aunt Bridget
1956 The March Hare Bridget
Jacqueline Mrs McBride
The Long Arm Mrs Stevens, the daily help
1957 The Rising of the Moon Old Woman
The Story of Esther Costello Jennie Costello
The Scamp Mrs Perryman
1958 Tread Softly Stranger Mrs Finnegan
The Doctor's Dilemma Emmy

Playography

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  • A Disciple (1931)
  • Temporal Powers (1932)
  • Katie Roche (1937)
  • Temporal Powers (1937)
  • In Search of Valour (1947)

References

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  1. ^ League, The Broadway. "Maureen Delany – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB".
  2. ^ "Maureen Delaney - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie".
  3. ^ a b E H Mikhail (1988). The Abbey Theatre: Interviews and Recollections. p. 39. ISBN 9780389206163.
  4. ^ League, The Broadway. "Maureen Delany – Broadway Cast & Staff - IBDB".
  5. ^ "Teresa Deevy Archive".
  6. ^ "Teresa Deevy Archive".
  7. ^ "Teresa Deevy Archive".[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Teresa Deevy Archive".[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Teresa Deevy Archive".
  10. ^ "Teresa Deevy Archive".
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