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