BACK

Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)


Annie D'Alton
Actress
1903 - 1983


Annie D’Alton

A special plaque commemorating the hugely popular Carlow actress Annie D’Alton (née Mulhall) was unveiled in the town by Biddy White-Lennon last Sunday.

A native of Bridewell Lane, Annie was born in 1903 one of 12 children of Mary-Ann and Davy Mulhall and it was here at the place of her birth the plaque was erected.

She attended the Presentation Primary School, Carlow and the Brigidine Boarding School, Tullow where she showed great flair as a singer and stage performer.

Then at the tender age of 13, Annie joined the Dobells Travelling Theatre Company. She rose in the company to eventually produce plays and down through the years shared the Carlow stage with the likes of Jimmy O’Dea and gave Milo O’Shea his very first job.

However her most famous role and the one that endeared her to thousands across the country was playing the unforgettable Minnie Brennan in The Riordans.

Master of Ceremonies at Sunday’s event, Seamus O’Rourke, said that few people could hold such a fine place in the hearts of the people. He reminded the large attendance that the essence of Annie’s success was that she made what she did seem so simple and could do more with raising an eyebrow or a mischievous little smile than many more could do with great passages of text.

He added that her home place, Bridewell Lane, was synonymous with light-hearted resilient people who overcame difficulties through an abundance of humour and a great love of music and song.

Annie loved her native county and during her long stage career she paid many visits home.

After the death of her first husband Louis D’Alton, Annie married John Cowley and their son Ultan Cowley was among those present last Sunday.

After her death in March 1983 at the age of 80, Annie was buried in her beloved home town where many of her relatives still reside today.

As reported in the Carlow Nationalist on Wednesday, September 05, 2007


Please report any images or broken links which do not open to mjbrennan30@gmail.com

The information contained within the pages of this web site is provided solely for the purpose of sharing with others researching their ancestors in Ireland.
© 2001 Ireland Genealogy Projects, IGP TM  By Pre-emptive Copyright - All rights reserved

TOP OF PAGE