Madam, – I read with great interest Rosita Boland’s Profile of Maureen O’Hara (Weekend Review, August 21st). It was particularly pleasant to see the reference to Ena Mary Burke and her school of elocution, as I believe this lady received too few accolades for the inspired training she gave to so many people during her very long career.
Those of us who made the weekly pilgrimage to 20 Kildare Street, in Dublin, which was both her home and her studio, received a thorough grounding in theatre. “Elocution” was only one aspect of the course, though a vital one.
Among her students were Milo O’Shea, Jim Norton, Joe Dowling and Brenda Fricker, all of whom, myself included, are proud to have been taught by “Burkie”. Thank you to Maureen O’Hara, and may she continue to enjoy life in Glengarriff. – Yours, etc,