Saving 'The Quiet Man Cottage' from Extinction
The photo above shows White O'Morn Cottage in Tiernakill, Maumm, County Galway as it was in 1951 when Hollywood came to Connemara. People in Connemara and even in Galway City are still talking about that magical six-weeks to this very day.
This old site, which now lies in ruins, is better known to the world as "The Quiet Man Cottage." The structure was depicted as the home of Sean Thornton (played by John Wayne) and Mary Kate Danaher (played by Maureen O'Hara) in the 1952 motion picture "The Quiet Man."
As you will see in the video below, something needs to be done quickly if this lovely old place that survived the famine years and countless other hardships is to be brought back from the edge of final extinction. Maureen O'Hara, in 2004, called the state of the cottage a "national disgrace," and I think most will find it difficult to disagree with her assessment.
What can be done? What is being done? There are multiple groups and organisations currently trying to work with the current owner of the property and Galway County Council to bring this dream to fruition, but complications and red tape still stand in the way.
In this discussion thread, I'm hoping to hear from the groups and individuals involved in this ongoing saga. That includes the groups trying to raise awareness, the property owner, and the Galway County Council. I'm also hoping to hear from anyone who has seen that grand old film "The Quiet Man" and anyone who understands the inherent value in restoring and preserving this important piece of Ireland's past.
Related:
Q&A with Mike Ward from the "Save The Quiet Man Cottage" group
Robin
My wife an I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves in Cong and the surrounding area's and visiting most of the film locations but we are at a loss to understand how White O'Morn could have got is such a state.
We visited the site of this cottage in July 2014. It is reputed to be 200/300 years old so this site says but was known to be well over 100 years at the time of filming 'The Quiet Man'. It obviously was not in or anywhere the state that it is now and we cannot understand how on earth it could have got to the state that it is in now after only a few decades.
It is not even a bare shell, no floor etc. there are many thousands of properties all over the world that are 80/100 years old and much more in outstanding condition, what am I missing? also could anyone enlighten me as to what happened to the original stepping stones please.
Thanks in anticipation
Rob.
Sep 28, 2014
mike ward
i would like to pay compliment to the owner ( Sean Maguire ) of the picture of the QUIET MAN COTTAGE above , whom had it watermarked with his copyright , on the bottom left hand corner of the picture , , his picture was cropped and his watermark removed ( not by THE WILD GEESE page monitors or admins ) but by a third party whom have in the past objected to the use of this picture claiming it was theirs Sean Maguire objected on this website to his picture being tampered with and requested his watermark be restored by the third party so far his request has been ignored ,
Sep 30, 2014
Robin
Hi,
On a slightly different note, can anyone throw any light on the run down neglected bungalow that was built right next to White O'Morn? I am curious as to why it was built in the first place and why right next to White O'Morn. Was this built before Mr Ebbit bought the land or since? It's nothing but an eye sore to say the least and what a terrible shame it's so close to White O'Morn. Thanks in anticipation for any replies.
Oct 3, 2014