Maureen Toal (7 September 1930 – 24 August 2012) was an Irish stage and television actress whose professional career lasted for more than sixty years. ^{[1] [2]}

She was born in 1930 and was originally from Fairview, Dublin. ^[2] Toal began performing at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin in 1946, when she was just sixteen years old. ^[1] She became a fixture at the theatre, portraying Bessie Burgess in The Plough and the Stars and the Widow Quinn in The Playboy of the Western World. ^[1] She also appeared in several one woman shows, including Baglady, which was written by Irish playwright Frank McGuinness. ^[1]

Another playwright, John B. Keane, wrote the role of Mame Fadden in his play, The Change in Mame Fadden, specifically for Toal. Hugh Leonard also penned characters in his plays A life and Great Big Blonde with the intention of casting Toal in the parts. ^[1] Toal was best known to Irish television audiences for her role as Teasy McDaid on RTÉ One's Glenroe during the 1990s. ^[1]

Honours

The University College Dublin awarded Toal an honorary doctorate in literature in 2010.^{[ citation needed]}

Personal life

In 1952, she married fellow Irish actor Milo O'Shea; they divorced in 1974 ^[3]

Death

Maureen Toal died in her sleep at her home in Sandycove, Dublin, on 24 August 2012, two weeks before her 82nd birthday. ^[1] She was survived by her son, Colm O'Shea; two sisters, one brother, and three grandchildren. ^[2]

Filmography

Partial playography

• Bláithín agus an Mac Rí (1953)
• A Slipper for the Moon (1954)
• A Flea in Her Ear (1979)
• A Life (1979)
• Baglady (1985)
• Yerma (1987) ^[4]

References

External links

• Maureen Toal at IMDb