Great Story behind one of my favorite old time actors and his brother, also into the story comes a High Ranking British Officer Whose Father played a major part in the 1916 Rising. Walworth rd is small quiet street situated between the Sth Cir Rd and the Grand canal, there is a house with a plaque on the wall next door to the Jewish museum. In 1888 Willam J Shield was born here as the plaque states, William went on to become a World famous Hollywood actor when he changed his name to Barry Fitzgerald, starring with all the greats like John Wayne, Bing Crosby etc..my personal favorite was the part he played in The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen OHara. He was to win an Oscar for best supporting actor in Going my Way with Bing Crosby, he was then to break the head off the coveted Oscar statue while honing his golf skills at home. Barry had an older brother who I think was more interesting of the two, his name was Arthur and he was also to become a film star but not before taking part in the Easter Rising, been interned, and then going on to play the part of Patrick Pearse in a major film. Heres some interesting info. The Shields were a Protestant family, Arthur was a republican who was active in 1916, he was part of the group who were in the Metropole before they retreated to Moore st, he was among those including his brother in law Charlie Saurin who tunneled their way through the buildings of Moore st in an attempt to escape, they eventually found themselves in Hanlons fish shop with all routes blocked. When it was decided that the rebels should surrender Arthur was among the prisoners who were marched away to Richmond barracks to be questioned,like so many more he ended up interned in Frongoch. After his release he was to make his way to the Hollywood ending up Playing alongside his brother in several films, but I suppose he could have been typecast for his role of Patrick Pearse in John Fordes film adaptation of OCaseys The Plough and the Stars. There was another soldier who would go on to be Hollywood Star in the vicinity of Moore St the day Pearse decided to surrender, a few hours before Arthur and his comrades were taken away Patrick Pearse and Nurse O Farrell stood and agreed a surrender with 2 British Officers..General John Lowe and his son, also called John were the men in the iconic photo. John Lowe Jr, was also to try his luck in Hollywood, he would change his name to Loder and in a strange twist of faith was to star alongside Arthur Shields in Gentleman Jim (about boxer Jim Corbett) He was also to Star with both Barry Fitzgerald and Arthur In How Green was my Valley I wonder did they know of each others past and did they swop stories about Easter week ? somehow I just couldnt see how they could have avoided it. I suppose its another classic example of how much a small world this really is.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:00:51 +0000
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