LISA (15) GETS SET FOR
"QUIET MAN" BOOM IN CONG
19 June 1996
By TOM GILLESPIE
FIFTEEN-years old Lisa Collins proved the real star when the "Quiet Man" Heritage Cottage was opened in her native Cong.
Television cameras zoomed in on the teenager as her proud parents Gerry and Margaret Collins stood by as Tourism Minister Enda Kenny was given a detailed tour of the cottage, the down stairs of which is an exact replica of the set used in the "The Quiet Man" film which starred John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara and Barry Fitzgerald. Many locations around Cong were used in the John Ford blockbuster which was released in 1952.
John Wayne stand-in Joe Mellotte from the Neale was among the guests when the minister cut the ribbon to open the cottage which also houses an archaeological and historical exhibition at Circular Road, Cong.
Painstaking effort has ensured that all the furnishings, artifacts and
costumes are authentic reproductions of those used by John Ford.
Upstairs houses an innovative permanent exhibition detailing the immense wealth of archaeological and historical interest to be found in Cong and its environs, tracing a continuous line from pre-historic times to the present.
Lisa Collins told Minister Kenny of the various costumes, locations and props which were used in the film. In fact she regularly leads tours of the twenty-nine locations in and around Cong, mayo, Galway and Connemara which were used in the movie.
Minister Kenny said the "Quiet Man" had long since entered the annals of worldwide affection for Ireland and the faithfully replicated cottage would in due course become a much frequented tourism attraction.
He said: "Thousands of people from all over the world who have been charmed by that memorable romance between Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne- under the watchful eye of Barry Fitzgerald -- would undoubtedly visit the cottage and rekindle that memory.
Minister Kenny said: "An imaginative attraction such as this, has a serious side as well. It is a project developed with the intention of contributing in a major way to the on-going drive to help our tourism industry to realise its full potential, by providing an increased range of leisure options for the visitor, and at a standard that matches the best to be found anywhere.
"Developments like this don't happen easily, and they always require a high level of financial investment combined with a serious commitment and belief in the project on the part of the investor. The Quiet Man heritage Cottage is no exception to this rule."
He said Gerry and Margaret Collins were no strangers to the Irish Tourism industry. Their record as operators speaks form itself and unlike many other tourism operators who specialise in one field of enterprise only. Gerry and Margaret were more diversified in their involvement with the industry.
He said they already operate two visitor hostels, a caravan and camping park, several holiday homes as well as funding Innisfree Guided tours.
Minister Kenny added: "The future performance of this latest addition to their tourism business therefore can rely on a wealth of experience in the industry generally to ensure success.
FOUNTAIN OF KNOWLEDGE
"Much of that experience is already being passed on to their daughter Lisa, who at only 15-years, has, I understand, become a fountain of knowledge from her work as a guide in the family business."It is a novel concept which can now provide a "Quiet Man" experience as never before - an accurate "on-set' experience which cannot fail to be a winner, especially with those who are very familiar with the details of the film itself - a number which I believe is growing at a surprising rate both at home and abroad.
"Painstaking care in the replication has been taken with regard to the furnishings, other artifacts and the costumes, but not alone this, the upstairs section has been given over to an innovative permanent exhibition detailing the immense wealth of othet archaeological and historical interest to be enjoyed in Cong and its environs.
"Gerry and Margaret Collins will be the first to agree that all of this has been made possible only with the expert involvement and commitment of many other people.
"Michael Gibbons launches the new historical guide and map which he has compiled with Lisa Collins covering the history of cong from 7,000 B.C. to the 19th century and Professor Des McHale has made the subject of "The Quiet Man" phenomenon the theme for the book he is presently engaged in which is due out later this year.
"For my part I wonder if John Ford ever realised the extent of interest his film would continue to generate almost half a century after he made it.
"He would I'm sure be pleased however, and would wholeheartedly approve of
what had been achieved by the Collins family which is as much a tribute to
his memory as it is a positive contribution to the future economic
well-being of the present community of Cong".
Connaught Telegraph - News - June 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - June 1996
