Maire O'Neill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maire O'Neill
ca. 1913
Born	Mary Agnes Allgood (1886-01-11)11 January 1886 Dublin, Ireland
Died	2 November 1952(1952-11-02) (aged 66) Basingstoke, Hampshire, England
Other names	Molly Allgood
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1905–1952
Spouse(s)	G. H. Mair ​ (m. 1911⁠–⁠1926)​ Arthur Sinclair ​ (m. 1938⁠–⁠1951)​

Maire O'Neill (born Mary Agnes Allgood; 11 January 1886 – 2 November 1952) was a famous Irish actress. She performed on stage and in movies. She is remembered in theatre history for being the first actress to play the main character, Pegeen Mike Flaherty. This was in John Millington Synge's well-known play The ... of the Western World (1907).

Life of Maire O'Neill

Maire O'Neill was born Mary Agnes Allgood in Dublin, Ireland. She was one of eight children. Her father, George, worked as a compositor (someone who sets type for printing). Her mother, Margaret, was a French polisher (someone who puts a shiny finish on wood).

Her family called her "Molly." Her father was very religious and did not like music, dancing, or entertainment. Her mother was also very religious. After her father passed away in 1896, Molly went to live in an orphanage. She then learned how to be a dressmaker.

Starting Her Acting Career

In 1900, Maud Gonne started a group called Inghinidhe na hÉireann. This group taught women about Irish history, language, and arts. Molly and her sister Sara joined the group's drama classes around 1903.

Their acting teacher, Willie Fay, helped them join the National Theatre Society. This group later became known as the Abbey Theatre. Maire was a part of the Abbey Theatre from 1906 to 1918. She acted in many plays there. In 1904, she played Margaret Drybone in a play called Katie Roche by Teresa Deevy.

Love and Loss

In 1905, Molly met the Irish writer John Millington Synge. They fell in love. Their relationship was seen as unusual because they came from different social backgrounds.

In September 1907, Synge had surgery. Later, doctors found a serious illness that could not be treated. Molly and Synge got engaged before he passed away in March 1909.

Acting in America and Films

Maire O'Neill first performed in America in 1914. She was in a play called General John Regan in New York. Using her stage name, Maire O'Neill, she appeared in movies from 1930 to 1953.

One of her famous movie roles was in Alfred Hitchcock's film Juno and the Paycock (1930). This movie was based on a play by Seán O'Casey.

She also had a small part in the film Riders to the Sea (1935). Her sister Sara starred in this movie. A story from the filming says that Molly cleverly ruined the last shot of the week. She did this with a small costume problem. This meant the actors would get another week of filming and pay.

Family Life and Challenges

In June 1911, Maire married G. H. Mair. He was a drama critic and later worked for important international groups. They had two children together. He passed away suddenly in 1926.

Six months later, she married Arthur Sinclair, who was also an actor from the Abbey Theatre. They had two children but later divorced.

Maire O'Neill faced many sad times in her life. Her fiancé, Synge, died before they could marry. Her brother Frank died in World War I in 1915, which deeply affected her. Her husband Arthur Sinclair died after 15 years of marriage. Their son also died in a plane crash in 1942.

Her sister Sara's husband and baby died during the Spanish flu outbreak. Sara passed away two years before Maire, and they had grown apart.

Later Years and Death

Maire O'Neill died on 2 November 1952, at the age of 66. She passed away in Park Prewett Hospital in Basingstoke, England. She was getting treatment there after being badly burned in a fire at her home in London.

In Fiction

The 2010 novel Ghost Light by Joseph O'Connor is partly based on Molly Allgood's relationship with John Millington Synge.

Partial Filmography

Playography

• Katie Roche (1994)