Joan Brosnan Walsh
Encyclopedia
Joan Brosnan Walsh was a veteran Irish
actress, best-known for her long-running role as the character Mags Kelly on the Irish soap opera Fair City
, a role she had played for almost twenty years, from 18 September 1989 until her final screen appearance broadcast on 11 January 2009.
Brosnan Walsh appeared in a number of films such as The Boxer
and Fatal Inheritance. She also worked as a costume designer. She first worked for ACNielsen
and Aer Lingus
, the latter providing her with her first experience of acting. After nearly twenty years she announced her departure from Fair City in January 2009 after declaring that she had contracted motor neurone disease
the previous year.
She discussed her disease during an appearance alongside her husband, Willie Brosnan Walsh, on The Late Late Show
on January 23, 2009, receiving a standing ovation at the end. She had painted since the 1970s but her illness forced her to revert from landscape painting to abstract painting.
, County Wicklow
. She had two other siblings but her mother died when she was young. An aunt brought her up in Dún Laoghaire
, County Dublin
.
Brosnan Walsh attended the Dominican Convent on Eccles Street before pursuing a career with ACNielsen
, a market research firm. In 1956 she moved to Aer Lingus
where she first experienced acting alongside the Metro Players, an amateur group of players which included her colleagues.
Brosnan Walsh designed costumes for The Secret Marriage produced by the Irish National Opera in 1976. She acted with Mobile Theatre and Team Theatre Company throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing on stage in The Puppeteer from Lodz (1986), The Year of the Hiker at the Gaiety (1990) and The Mother
(1997). She was member of the Backlane Painters, with whom she exhibited and sold her work.
for almost twenty years, making her screen debut on September 18, 1989 and her final screen appearance on January 11, 2009.
Her colleague Dave Duffy (aka Leo Dowling) said she got a "terrific send-off" with "champagne and flowers for her and a bit of a party in McCoy's pub".
While appearing on The Late Late Show
on January 23, 2009, Brosnan Walsh spoke of her character and her time in Fair City:
. The "hardest thing" was her loss of singing voice.
On 23 January 2009, she appeared with her husband, Willie Brosnan Walsh, on The Late Late Show
to discuss her condition, saying she discovered her condition whilst holidaying with her neighbour in South France in October 2007. She was then diagnosed the following Spring. The audience presented her with a standing ovation at the end.
In February 2009 she launched Rare Diseases Week.
After Brosnan Walsh's death on 20 December 2009, aged 71, the cast of Fair City released the following tribute to Brosnan Walsh: "She was warm and lovely in person, a consummate professional and a delight to work with. A talented actress, singer and artist who bore her illness with incredible dignity, she will be very much missed around Carrigstown".
Jane Gogan, RTÉ's drama recruiter, said "She has been at the heart of Fair City for the last 20 years and was without doubt one of its most popular characters. She was also one of the most warmly regarded colleagues in RTÉ and will be greatly missed by the Fair City cast and crew and all who worked with her in RTÉ, as well as her host of fans throughout the country".
Strand Players production and they won the Esso
Trophy at the all-Ireland drama festival held in Athlone, County Westmeath
.
In 1970 Brosnan Walsh won best actress at Templetuohy's one-act drama festival in County Tipperary
.
|-
| 1969 || Esso
Trophy || all-Ireland drama festival ||
|-
| 1970 || Best Actress || Templetuohy ||
|-
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
actress, best-known for her long-running role as the character Mags Kelly on the Irish soap opera Fair City
Fair City
Fair City is an award-winning Irish television soap opera on RTÉ One. Produced by Radio Telefís Éireann, it was first broadcast on Monday, September 18, 1989...
, a role she had played for almost twenty years, from 18 September 1989 until her final screen appearance broadcast on 11 January 2009.
Brosnan Walsh appeared in a number of films such as The Boxer
The Boxer (film)
The Boxer is a 1997 film by Irish director Jim Sheridan. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson, the film centers on the life of a boxer and former Provisional IRA Volunteer, Danny Flynn, played by Day-Lewis, who is trying to "go straight" after his release from prison...
and Fatal Inheritance. She also worked as a costume designer. She first worked for ACNielsen
ACNielsen
ACNielsen is a global marketing research firm, with worldwide headquarters in New York City. Regional headquarters for North America are located in Schaumburg, Illinois. As of May 2010, it is part of The Nielsen Company.-History:...
and Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
, the latter providing her with her first experience of acting. After nearly twenty years she announced her departure from Fair City in January 2009 after declaring that she had contracted motor neurone disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
the previous year.
She discussed her disease during an appearance alongside her husband, Willie Brosnan Walsh, on The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
on January 23, 2009, receiving a standing ovation at the end. She had painted since the 1970s but her illness forced her to revert from landscape painting to abstract painting.
Early life and career
Brosnan Walsh was born in 1938 in GreystonesGreystones
Greystones is a coastal town and small seaside resort in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located on Ireland’s east coast, south of Bray and south of Dublin , with a population in the region of 15,000....
, County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
. She had two other siblings but her mother died when she was young. An aunt brought her up in Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
.
Brosnan Walsh attended the Dominican Convent on Eccles Street before pursuing a career with ACNielsen
ACNielsen
ACNielsen is a global marketing research firm, with worldwide headquarters in New York City. Regional headquarters for North America are located in Schaumburg, Illinois. As of May 2010, it is part of The Nielsen Company.-History:...
, a market research firm. In 1956 she moved to Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
where she first experienced acting alongside the Metro Players, an amateur group of players which included her colleagues.
Brosnan Walsh designed costumes for The Secret Marriage produced by the Irish National Opera in 1976. She acted with Mobile Theatre and Team Theatre Company throughout the 1970s and 1980s, appearing on stage in The Puppeteer from Lodz (1986), The Year of the Hiker at the Gaiety (1990) and The Mother
The Mother (play)
The Mother is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. It is based on Maxim Gorky’s 1906 novel of the same name.It was written in collaboration with Hanns Eisler, Slatan Dudow and Günter Weisenborn from 1930–31 in prose dialogue with unrhymed irregular free verse and ten initial...
(1997). She was member of the Backlane Painters, with whom she exhibited and sold her work.
Fair City
Brosnan Walsh played the character of Mags Kelly in Fair CityFair City
Fair City is an award-winning Irish television soap opera on RTÉ One. Produced by Radio Telefís Éireann, it was first broadcast on Monday, September 18, 1989...
for almost twenty years, making her screen debut on September 18, 1989 and her final screen appearance on January 11, 2009.
Her colleague Dave Duffy (aka Leo Dowling) said she got a "terrific send-off" with "champagne and flowers for her and a bit of a party in McCoy's pub".
While appearing on The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
on January 23, 2009, Brosnan Walsh spoke of her character and her time in Fair City:
Health and death
Brosnan Walsh departed Fair City due to declining health as a result of her motor neurone diseaseMotor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
. The "hardest thing" was her loss of singing voice.
On 23 January 2009, she appeared with her husband, Willie Brosnan Walsh, on The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
to discuss her condition, saying she discovered her condition whilst holidaying with her neighbour in South France in October 2007. She was then diagnosed the following Spring. The audience presented her with a standing ovation at the end.
In February 2009 she launched Rare Diseases Week.
After Brosnan Walsh's death on 20 December 2009, aged 71, the cast of Fair City released the following tribute to Brosnan Walsh: "She was warm and lovely in person, a consummate professional and a delight to work with. A talented actress, singer and artist who bore her illness with incredible dignity, she will be very much missed around Carrigstown".
Jane Gogan, RTÉ's drama recruiter, said "She has been at the heart of Fair City for the last 20 years and was without doubt one of its most popular characters. She was also one of the most warmly regarded colleagues in RTÉ and will be greatly missed by the Fair City cast and crew and all who worked with her in RTÉ, as well as her host of fans throughout the country".
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Fatal Inheritance | Mrs. O'Toole | |
| 1997 | The Boxer The Boxer (film) The Boxer is a 1997 film by Irish director Jim Sheridan. Starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Emily Watson, the film centers on the life of a boxer and former Provisional IRA Volunteer, Danny Flynn, played by Day-Lewis, who is trying to "go straight" after his release from prison... |
Mrs. Orr | |
Awards
In 1969 she was a cast member of The Caucasian Chalk CircleThe Caucasian Chalk Circle
The Caucasian Chalk Circle is a play by the German modernist playwright Bertolt Brecht. An example of Brecht's epic theatre, the play is a parable about a peasant girl who rescues a baby and becomes a better mother than its natural parents....
Strand Players production and they won the Esso
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
Trophy at the all-Ireland drama festival held in Athlone, County Westmeath
County Westmeath
-Economy:Westmeath has a strong agricultural economy. Initially, development occurred around the major market centres of Mullingar, Moate, and Kinnegad. Athlone developed due to its military significance, and its strategic location on the main Dublin–Galway route across the River Shannon. Mullingar...
.
In 1970 Brosnan Walsh won best actress at Templetuohy's one-act drama festival in County Tipperary
County Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
.
|-
| 1969 || Esso
Esso
Esso is an international trade name for ExxonMobil and its related companies. Pronounced , it is derived from the initials of the pre-1911 Standard Oil, and as such became the focus of much litigation and regulatory restriction in the United States. In 1972, it was largely replaced in the U.S. by...
Trophy || all-Ireland drama festival ||
|-
| 1970 || Best Actress || Templetuohy ||
|-
External links
- Joan Brosnan Walsh at TV.comTV.comTV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
- Mags Kelly at Fair CityFair CityFair City is an award-winning Irish television soap opera on RTÉ One. Produced by Radio Telefís Éireann, it was first broadcast on Monday, September 18, 1989...
- Obituary in The Irish TimesThe Irish TimesThe Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...