This piece appeared in the "Irish Independent" yesterday.

"Screen legend Maureen O'Hara had her fans captivated yesterday when she spoke for two hours at the Galway Film Fleadh.

In a rare public appearance the 84-year-old star proved that she was still the fiery redhead that became famous on the silver screen in countless classics since the 1940s.

During the interview Ms O'Hara spoke of her firm friendship with John Wayne with whom she worked on a number of films including the "Quiet Man".

The star also discussed working with the director John Ford, who, she said, was more than difficult to work with.

However, despite describing the famous director as being mean and nasty, she also described him as a genius and added that all actors who worked with him came away from a shoot knowing that he had got the best results out of them.

Ms. O'Hara spoke to a packed auditorium in the Galway Townhall for RTE Radio One's Rattlebag programme and discussed the highlights of her acting life.

She talked about beginning her career at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin at the age of 14 and finding fame two years later when she was discovered by Charles Laughton.

The audience also heard of her enforced stay in America where she went to film the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" but was compelled to stay for seven yaers when the war broke out.