Northsider’s campaign to honour a Hollywood legend

A Northside movie fan is on a crusade to have a statue of a Hollywood legend erected in Kerry.

Swords native Maurice Colgan is campaigning to have a bronze statue of late movie star Robert Mitchum erected in Dingle.

Maurice (pictured above), who lives in Mooretown, explained to Northside People why he is so passionate about his latest project.

“I’m a big fan of Robert Mitchum, he was such a legendary star who was famous all over the world,” he said.

“The movie Ryan’s Daughter, in which he played the lead role, had a massive impact on the Dingle peninsula increasing tourism by tens of thousands to see the location.

“When it came out in 1970, I was living in Manchester and because of that film myself and my family headed to Kerry and camped above the beach where it was filmed.

“We kept going back year after year and I was surprised that there was hardly ever any mention of the film or Robert Mitchum in Dingle.”

A promotional poster for Ryan’s Daughter

As well as being an actor, Robert Mitchum, who died in 1997, aged 79, was a director, author, poet, composer, and singer.

He rose to prominence for starring in several classic film noirs in the 1950’s and 60’s, and is rated number 23 on the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.

Colgan says he got the idea for the statue following the disappearance of one of Dingle’s most famous residents.

“I sent a message to Radio Kerry and they spoke to me about the idea I had of having a statue of Robert Mitchum in Dingle as a huge tourist and selfie attraction now that Fungi the dolphin has gone,” Colgan said.

“Robert’s son Christopher Mitchum supports my proposal, he thinks ‘it’s a wonderful idea.’

“Now his brother Jim Mitchum has offered his help.

“They were all influenced because I got the statue of Elvis erected in Tupelo.”

Colgan is very experienced when it comes to getting statues erected.

He was previously successful in getting a statue of Elvis built in The King’s hometown of Tupelo.

“That story was covered by Northside People,” Colgan said.

“I couldn’t believe there wasn’t any statue in the town where Elvis was born and spent the first few years of his life.

“I’m a huge Elvis fan as well and him and Robert Mitchum knew each other.

“Elvis was at a party at the Mitchum’s home in 1957. Robert Mitchum wanted to have Elvis in a film he was making.”

Colgan thinks the local council in Dingle should think of the potential gains a Mitchum statue would bring to the town.

“Imagine all the selfies that’d be taken at the statue, who wouldn’t want to get a picture of themselves with Robert Mitchum in Dingle?

“This man was the coolest movie star of all time and Dingle should be celebrating their special link to him.

“There are many wonderful stories of Robert Mitchum walking around Dingle doing his shopping with a little basket, and having little chats with the local people.”

Robert’s son Christopher confirmed to Northside People that the family are 100% behind Maurice’s proposal.

“Dingle is the sister city to my hometown of Santa Barbara,” he told us

“A few years back, I met the Mayor of Dingle and Stephen and Patrick who travelled with him to Santa Barbara.

“They invited me to come stay with them at Hilltown House and we’d do a fundraiser for charity.

“Along with that, my sister, Petrine, visited my father a number of times while he was there shooting.

“Her memories of Dingle are so fond she talks of wanting to buy a small cottage there.

“All of these connections make a trip to Dingle to take part in the towns honouring my father with a statue an obvious ‘must.’”