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Plaque unveiled at Falls Library in memory of Jimmy Devlin

West Belfast actor Jimmy Devlin, who died in 1991, yesterday had a plaque unveiled in his honour on the Falls Road
West Belfast actor Jimmy Devlin, who died in 1991, yesterday had a plaque unveiled in his honour on the Falls Road West Belfast actor Jimmy Devlin, who died in 1991, yesterday had a plaque unveiled in his honour on the Falls Road

A LARGE crowd gathered on the Falls Road in west Belfast yesterday to watch the unveiling of a blue plaque to actor J.G. Devlin.

The memorial on the Falls Library to the west Belfast man, who starred alongside the likes of Sean Connery, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman during an acting career spanning six decades, was officially opened by Belfast lord mayor Arder Carson, who said "as a west Belfast man myself I am particularly privileged to be here to pay tribute to a fantastic actor".

Amongst those in attendance were members of the actor's family, including his daughter, Fiona Coyle, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ms Coyle said the choice of the Falls Library for the plaque "could not be more perfect."

"My father was very lucky to get parts in live theatre and films that gave him the opportunity to travel around the world. He went to Australia, the US and Europe, but he always came back to Belfast because he never wanted to live anywhere else.

"This plaque is a wonderful honour. He talked about coming to the library as a young boy, which is where he discovered a passion for books which in turn brought about his passion for theatre and Shakespeare."

Actor Dan Gordon described him as "an inspiration for acting and for the Ulster dialect in acting" and several actors unable to attend sent personal messages, with Adrian Dunbar describing him as a "fine actor" who was "an inspiration to many."

Devlin, who grew up in Oranmore Street, died in October 1991 at the age of 84.

The Ulster History Circle marked the late actor's contribution to theatre and the arts with the plaque, which Belfast City Council part funded.

Devlin began acting in amateur drama in the 1930s and his final film role was alongside Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in `Far and Away' - a long way from his big break on radio in Joseph Tumelty's iconic series `The McCooeys'.

First broadcast in 1949, it depicted the life of an ordinary working-class Belfast family and ran for seven years, with Devlin becoming a household name for his role as `Granda'.

He went on to appear in 1959 Disney film `Darby O'Gill and the Little People' and was a regular performer in theatre productions in Belfast and London throughout his life, alongside actors like James Ellis and Stephen Rea.

Late in life he found renewed fame on television as Father Dooley in the popular BBC sitcom `Bread'.

Ulster History Circle chairman Chris Spurr said he was "revered as an actor who captured the wit and warmth of his native city in many of his roles".