Galway businesses recall day when JR popped in for a visit

Date Published: 26-Nov-2012

By Joe Folan

Two of Galway’s renowned establishments reminisced this week of when the infamous JR and Sue Ellen Ewing graced their doors.

Larry Hagman, the actor who played the iconic Texan on TV show Dallas, passed away last Friday at the age of 81.

Mr Hagman, his wife Maj, and actress Linda Gray – who played JR’s wife Sue Ellen on the hit TV show – came to Galway in April 2008 and included the Treasure

Chest and Tigh Chóilí on their visit.

“I got a call from Newbridge Silverware to say Linda was on her way to Galway, and she brought Larry into the shop with her,” recalled Treasure Chest proprietor Mary Bennett yesterday.

“He was absolutely fantastic. He stayed in the store for quite some time talking to all our girls, and even made a second visit back later on that day.”

Ms Bennett said that Mr Hagman had “a genuine interest in historical Galway”.

She brought them on a tour of the city, when the trio came across Tigh Chóilí pub.

“He got on great with the locals, you couldn’t ask for a nicer person,” said Coilí Ó Flatharta, owner of the Mainguard Street pub.

“I was surprised when he ordered a glass of Guinness, as I thought he couldn’t drink,” he said, referring to the actor’s problems with alcohol.

A photo of the couple dons the wall in the bar, where a red rose was placed on the picture frame by an anonymous customer over the weekend.

The actors had confirmed to Ms Bennett that they hoped to return to Galway for a longer stay in the future.

Read more in today’s Connacht Sentinel