Maureen Halligan

   It is with deep sadness that I share with you this news:  Maureen Halligan died early this morning, October 19th, 2008.  She had been suffering from a hacking cough, but was quite clear mentally and as talkative as ever when I visited her yesterday afternoon. 

    Then about 2:30 this morning the nurse on duty at Chandler called to tell Dick McCracken that when she went to check on Maureen she found she had died.  Apparently, Maureen was awake at the midnight check, but then died before the next one. Dick and I drove over there and waited until the funeral directors came to remove the body.

    Details for Maureen's funeral are pending due to decisions that have to be made by her family in Ireland.  I am sure the newspapers will have those details, but I will also try to reach you with them.

    God grant our precious Maureen the rest she has certainly earned!  She is now reunited with her beloved Ronnie!

    Sr. Germaine

The stars are more numerous above our heads.
Bless her.
Charles Jeffries
SATCO President

Maureen Halligan Ibbs

May 5, 1914 - October 19, 2008

Professor Emerita of Theatre, University of the Incarnate Word

Interestingly enough, before theatre claimed her she was University College Dublin-educated as a cellist and music was her first love. It was the Earl of Longford who enticed her out of University College and into the role of Ophelia in Hamlet. Her interest in music continues today with her support of public radio and television. Indeed, when she traveled to Europe for long periods of time she left her radio on tuned to classical music.” If someone is going to rob me, “ she says, “They might as well hear the best.”

During those intervening years she also performed on the stages of the Abbey and Gate Theatres in Dublin, at the Theatre Royal, in films including Disney productions [the last was Darby O’Gill and the Little People], on television [including Playhouse 90 and Ed Sullivan], radio [Peer Gynt], and theatrical tours to the Mideast. Among those she worked with are the late Carroll O’Connor, Siobhan O’Casey, Dan O’Herlihy, Josie MacAvin and Sir Tyrone Guthrie, and to this day is known for having rejected actor Sean Connery for the Dublin Players as being “too young and inexperienced” to tour America.

In 1964 Ms Halligan returned to San Antonio, shortly joined by her husband actor Ronald Ibbs, and together they developed the theatre program at then Incarnate Word College, established a resident company, and helped Incarnate Word not only build a program but a handsome new theatre facility serving the campus and the community. All this while she was responsible for the regional auditions for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Among the non-theatrical hats she wore during the following years was the directorship of WENCOE, a program dedicated to encouraging women to return to or begin studies in higher education. As a producer, for years she rounded up campus and San Antonio talent for her every Friday at noon Café Ole free entertainment series on campus. One of those groups, The Small World, has continued performing in San Antonio for over thirty years.

For the three decades after the 1960s, Ms Halligan and her husband richly deserved the title of First Couple of San Antonio Theatre. They shared their talent and years of professional experience with other theatres in San Antonio, and to this day it would be a rare San Antonio theatre which does not have in their company someone who studied or performed onstage with Ms Halligan. It would be easy to list the Incarnate Word theatre graduates and the contributions they have made in San Antonio and beyond. It may be more impressive to mention those who never attended, or at least never graduated. Like young high school student Bruce McGill, who came for a professional challenge and is now a major Hollywood actor, or a very talented Jesse Borrego who needed determined Halligan encouragement to “give California a chance,” or a Joe Sears and Jason Williams she gently urged to get out of town.

Dedicated to Irish theatre and playwrights, Ms Halligan from the 1950s forward gave them a showcase in San Antonio, and introduced generations of young people to the challenges and wit of this ancient tradition. All this she did by performing as well as teaching. She remembers, fondly, of directing in the early 1960s young Hispanic women of the Little Flower Academy in scenes from Riders to the Sea. These were young women who never even saw the sea, or experienced anything Irish, but knew how to imagine and how to feel poetry. She introduced San Antonio to a theatrical James Joyce, the tragedy of Juno and the Paycock, the hypocrisy of Shadow and Substance, and the humanity of Da.

The very last expression one ever used in connection with Maureen Halligan and 2008 San Antonio Women’s Hall of Famer is “declining years.” She was a founding board member and performer with the innovative Extended Run Players of UIW, made up completely of senior “retired” performers. She also visited college classes, local radio programs, went on student recruiting trips, rarely misses a theatrical, symphony, chamber music, opera or ballet performance in San Antonio, followed international news with a passion, and very likely could have been a sports consultant on the latest in tennis or golf which she followed with a passion. And the SPURS!

Born Mary Josephine Teresa Halligan to Michael and Mary MacAvin Halligan in Dublin, she and her sisters were orphaned at an early age. She is predeceased by her parents, her husband Ronald Ibbs Smith-Millard, her sisters Sunniva Clarke and Deirdre O’Connor, and her devoted cousin and co-worker, Josie MacAvin. She is survived by her nieces Sunniva and Oliver Sheridan, Ann and Robin Simmons and nephew Michael Clarke all of Ireland, plus great and great great nieces and nephews in Ireland, England, India and the USA, not to mention legions of other relatives and fans cross the world. Special thanks to Dr Charles Briseno, Dr Mario Gutierrez, Dr Sabas Abuabara and the doctors and staff of the Nix, Baptist Hospital and the staff at the Chandler Assisted Living Center, Sister Germaine Corbin, CCVI, and her POA Dick McCracken.

Services

Friday, October, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. Rosary at the Angelus Funeral Home
Saturday, October 25 at 2:00 p.m.* Funeral Mass at Our Lady’s Chapel, University of the Incarnate Word Administration Building. Rev John Edward Kelly, UIW BA ’76. Interment to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery. Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers: Jerry Watson, Mendell D. Morgan Jr, Basil Aivailotis, Bob Connolly, Tony Ciaravino, Ron Spana and Ricardo Chavira.

In lieu of flowers donations are requested for the Halligan-Ibbs Scholarship Endowment at the University of the Incarnate Word.

*corrected time

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