The death has occurred of the actress and theatre director, Ms Ursula Doyle (65), widow of the comedian Jimmy O'Dea, writes Patsy McGarry. She died at St James's Hospital in Dublin.
Ms Doyle began her career in entertainment, with her brother, Noel, as part of a song-and-dance team which performed in the Dublin theatres and toured Ireland during the I940s. Later both went to Canada where they were very successful.
Ms Doyle returned to Ireland in the I950s and took part in pantomimes and revues at the Gaiety theatre, before going on to direct its Gaels of Laughter and other shows. In 1959 she married Mr O'Dea. It was his second marriage. In more recent years she directed the cabaret shows at Jurys and the Burlington hotels in Dublin.
An old friend, Ms Maureen Porter, recalled the Doyle home in Tara Street, Dublin, as having "the warmest kitchen in Ireland".