Sheila McGibbon
Encyclopedia
Sheila R. McGibbon was an Irish stage, radio and television actress. She was born to a modest Catholic family in 1921, and died in 1997, the same year as her husband, John Graham
, a Protestant IRA
volunteer and later pro-golfer. They had seven children whom they raised in the Belfast area.
Throughout her distinguished career, she starred in numerous plays in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and in the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. According to Irish Playography documents, she starred in over 30 plays. She also starred in numerous radio, television, and movie roles. Some of the plays and radio shows McGibbon starred in were later broadcast on television which she also starred in. Her first radio broadcast was on February 26, 1955; her last was on June 29, 1995. In 1988 McGibbon appeared in the television dramatised documentary, God's Frontiersmen as "Elizabeth Brownlee", and was offered a role for a film but declined.
in Dublin. Her picture also remains in the memorial of the Lyric Theatre, Dublin
.
According to an article written in the Belfast Telegraph in 1997 (the year of McGibbon's death) she had helped Oscar
nominated Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson
obtain an Equity Card
in 1978. . In 1969 McGibbon was chosen to fly on the first Concorde
flight, and was subsequently the first Irish actress to ever fly on Concorde.
:
John Graham (republican)
John S.S. Graham was an important Irish Republican Army activist in the 1940s.He was one of a group of Protestants who joined the IRA, and for a time in the 1940s they formed a company of the IRA in Belfast...
, a Protestant IRA
Irish Republican Army (1922–1969)
The original Irish Republican Army fought a guerrilla war against British rule in Ireland in the Irish War of Independence 1919–1921. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty on 6 December 1921, the IRA in the 26 counties that were to become the Irish Free State split between supporters and...
volunteer and later pro-golfer. They had seven children whom they raised in the Belfast area.
Throughout her distinguished career, she starred in numerous plays in the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and in the Lyric Theatre, Belfast. According to Irish Playography documents, she starred in over 30 plays. She also starred in numerous radio, television, and movie roles. Some of the plays and radio shows McGibbon starred in were later broadcast on television which she also starred in. Her first radio broadcast was on February 26, 1955; her last was on June 29, 1995. In 1988 McGibbon appeared in the television dramatised documentary, God's Frontiersmen as "Elizabeth Brownlee", and was offered a role for a film but declined.
Legacy
Sheila McGibbon remains one of the more noted Irish actresses of her time. Her picture still remains framed in the lobby of Ireland's national theatre, the Abbey TheatreAbbey Theatre
The Abbey Theatre , also known as the National Theatre of Ireland , is a theatre located in Dublin, Ireland. The Abbey first opened its doors to the public on 27 December 1904. Despite losing its original building to a fire in 1951, it has remained active to the present day...
in Dublin. Her picture also remains in the memorial of the Lyric Theatre, Dublin
Lyric Theatre, Dublin
The Lyric Theatre grew out of Austin Clarke's Dublin Verse Speaking Society. It operated out of the Abbey Theatre's downstairs studio theatre, the Peacock from 1941 to 1944 and the Abbey proper from 1944 to 1951 when it closed as a consequence of the fire that destroyed the building....
.
According to an article written in the Belfast Telegraph in 1997 (the year of McGibbon's death) she had helped Oscar
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
nominated Northern Irish actor Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson
Liam John Neeson, OBE is an Irish actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards.He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les...
obtain an Equity Card
Equity Card
An Equity Card is proof of membership in an organization of stage actors such as the Actors' Equity Association of the United States or the British Equity...
in 1978. . In 1969 McGibbon was chosen to fly on the first Concorde
Concorde
Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde was a turbojet-powered supersonic passenger airliner, a supersonic transport . It was a product of an Anglo-French government treaty, combining the manufacturing efforts of Aérospatiale and the British Aircraft Corporation...
flight, and was subsequently the first Irish actress to ever fly on Concorde.
Plays
The following plays were produced in Belfast by the Ulster Group Theatre, the Belfast Arts Theatre and the Lyric Theatre, Belfast.- The Belle of the Belfast City (as Dolly) (1989)
- Culture VulturesCulture VulturesCulture Vultures is a 2007 indie rock album by American band Orson. The album was released on October 22, 2007 but it leaked online on October 20, 2007....
(as Sarah) (1988) - Tea in a China Cup (as Great Aunt Maisie) (1983)
- We Do It For Love (as Mrs. Ryan) (1975)
- Guests (as Min Meeneely) (1974)
- Nightfall to Belfast (as Mrs. Rogers) (1973)
- Separate Beds (as Sarah Rea) (1970)
- "Stars of Brickfield Street" (1971)
- The Mating Season (as Mrs. Jamieson) (1969)
- Family Fever (Sadie Galbraith) (1968)
- Stop it Nurse (as Martha Cooper) (1968)
- The Square PegThe Square PegThe Square Peg is a 1958 British comedy film starring Norman Wisdom and directed by John Paddy Carstairs. Norman Wisdom plays two different characters: a man who digs and repairs roads and a Nazi General.-Cast:...
(as Annie McQuillan) (1950)
Radio Programs
The following radio programs were produced and recorded by and for the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
:
- The Clearance of Audleystown - 29 June 1995
- The Colleen Bawn - 3 November 1990
- The Last of a Dyin' Race (Part One) - 14 January 1986
- The Last of a Dyin' Race (Part Two) - 21 January 1986
- Ulster Final - September 1983
- Beyond the Pale - 1980
- Maguire - 1980
- The McCooeys - 26 February 1955
Television Programs
- The Square PegThe Square PegThe Square Peg is a 1958 British comedy film starring Norman Wisdom and directed by John Paddy Carstairs. Norman Wisdom plays two different characters: a man who digs and repairs roads and a Nazi General.-Cast:...
(1958) - The Mating Season (1980)
- Ties of Blood (1985)
- The Last of a Dyin' Race (1986)
- Out of TuneOut of TuneOut of Tune is a British children's TV sitcom which was shown on CBBC from 1996 to 1998.It features a group of fictional children that belong to a church choir at a school and their practice sessions. However the choir is humorously bad, hence the name 'Out of Tune', and the practice sessions are...
(1986) - God's Frontiersmen (1988) (as Elizabeth Brownlee)
- Beyond the Pale (1989)