HOLLYWOOD legend Maureen O'Hara is narrating part of a new series of Irish folklore books with audio CDs for children.The voice of the veteran actress, now 92, relates the first story, about St Patrick, in a series compiled by Gabrielle Bean Ui Dhomhnaill, who teaches at Donacarney national school near Bettystown in Co Meath.
Bean Ui Dhomhnaill decided to create a new bi-lingual series of books and CDs for children, retelling the great stories from Irish folklore like those of Cuchulainn, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, and the Children of Lir.
"I thought Maureen O'Hara would be perfect," she said.
Late last year, she emailed her archivist, June Parker Beck, in the US.
"I thought I'd get a polite 'no'. Eventually, I got word back that Maureen would be delighted to narrate the story.''
Bean Ui Dhomnaill said the recording was done in Glengarriff, Co Cork, in February this year.
''There wasn't a dry eye in the room as she recited St Patrick's Prayer. After a half hour or so it was all over. She was wonderful."
O'Hara's narration of the St Patrick story for the CD is in English and the Irish version has been narrated by Prof Alan Titley of University College Cork.
The series of 10 books and CDs will be published by Irish Folklore Publications and St Patrick's Story goes on sale this week.
"I am in talks with other Irish acting legends to narrate the remaining nine stories," said Bean Ui Domhnaill.
The books will be available in bookshops and from Amazon.