Moira Griffin of Castleisland: ‘Goldwyn Girl of Ireland’ – Castleisland District Heritage – Incorporating the Michael O'Donohoe Memorial Heritage Project

Moira Griffin of Cahereenard, Castleisland was the youngest of a family of three boys and three girls of farmer Thomas Griffin, and his wife Mary (née O’Sullivan), a native of Brosna.[1] Moira was educated at the Presentation Convent, Castleisland and Holy Faith Convent, Glasnevin, Dublin.

In the 1950s, Moira entered a competition called Goldwyn Girl of Ireland based on Sam Goldwyn’s musical Guys and Dolls. It was promoted by the Sunday Independent, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and the Adelphi Cinema.

Moira was selected from four hundred photographic entries to appear in the final at the Adelphi Cinema, Dublin with eleven other ladies. The event took place on Friday 27 March 1957 and the finalists included another Castleisland born girl, Miriam Brosnan (Moira’s first cousin) and also Tralee lady, Celia Switzer, a former student of the Presentation Convent Tralee, who worked at the Motor Tax Office in the town.[2]

**Elegance and Glamour: Eleven of the twelve ladies selected appear for the cameras in 1957 in this photograph published in The Kerryman. Miss Bernie Doyle, Tallow was unable to attend**

Nineteen-year-old Moira Griffin was pronounced the winner, and proclaimed one of Ireland’s most attractive girls, her title carrying with it prizes totalling over £200. She began a grand tour of fifteen Dublin firms to collect a wardrobe of clothes and accessories, some of her selections being California cotton, French knit and an Irish Poplin Dublin coat. She also prepared for a weekend in London as guest of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer which included a tour of the studios.

On her return to Castleisland, she was greeted by a procession of motor cars which escorted her through Main Street to the Astor Cinema.

Jubilation: Centre image shows Moira celebrating with her mother, brother, sister and friends and neighbours Tim Kirby, Jackie Daly, Billy Browne, Junior Browne and Gene O’Connor. On the left, Moira is photographed by Tony O’Malley in Phoenix Park with Freddie Carr and, far right, Miss Celia Switzer of Tralee, one of three finalists from Kerry

In 1959, at St Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney, Moira Griffin married Thomas Barnes of Rathluire, Co Cork, son of John Joseph Barnes of Stradbally and moved to Limerick. She passed away on Christmas Day 2014.[3]

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[1] Moira’s siblings were J.P., Bertie, Tom, Teresa and Cecelia.

[2] The nine other entrants selected were Clementine Earliee, Strokestown; Glasnevin; Nancy Sweeney, Carrick-on-Shannon; Alice Murphy, Rathfarnham; Lily Crowley, Ranelagh; Irene McLoughlin, Dublin; Gloria Walsh, Dublin; Marina Gipon, Dublin; Sarah Perry, Offaly and Miss Bernie Doyle, Tallow who was unable to attend the final.

[3] Moira Griffin Barnes was the mother of John, Caroline and Ann Marie.   John lives at the family farm at Cahereennard, Kealgorm, Castleisland.