The renowned actress talks to Maxi about her career as a theatre, film and television actress, things she holds dear to her heart, the losses and gains of the past twelve months and what she is looking forward to in 2025

 

Geraldine Plunkett, best known for her portrayal of popular characters in Fair City and Glenroe, is celebrating her newest role, the Dublin Ambassador for Age Friendly Ireland and she is talking to me about her memories of the year past and her hopes for the new year.

Geraldine famously portrayed Mary McDermott-Moran, Dick Moran’s screen wife in Glenroe.

“From a sorrowful point of view, I have lost people in 2024 that I know and was fond of. Emmet Bergin is one, Ronan Smith is another and I lost my sister-in-law at the end of 2024. Emmet was not remotely like Dick Moran, not remotely.

“We had great fun doing Glenroe. All of the cast were very close and because it ran for eighteen years, we got to know each other well. The leads especially, because as with any drama other cast members come and go, but the leads were great friends and very supportive of each other.

“In the course of a long time like that, you go through marriages and deaths and all the things life can throw at you. My daughter, Jenny, died during Glenroe and everyone was very understanding and kind. Some earlier cast members died too, and we became closer because of the shared experiences. I enjoyed it very much, it was popular and great to work on it. Wesley Burrowes was a magnificent writer. He wrote it completely alone for a long time before collaborating.”

Joy is often juxtaposed with pleasure, so is Geraldine looking forward to surprises, unexpected visitors, joy and celebrations in the New Year?

“I’m an optimistic person, and I was happy personally in 2024, and my children are well and content. I appeared in Valley of the Squinting Windows in Mullingar and Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre, so that was very satisfying.
“I also worked with lovely people and fine actors. I had a joyous time, from that point of view.
“My eldest granddaughter is getting married and we are all looking forward to that very much.It’s the first wedding of a grandchild. I have eight granddaughters – Síofra, Ruby, Daisy, Evie, Emma, Kathleen, Elsie and

Sadie. My late husband, Peadar Lamb, the Abbey actor, and I had six children – Peadar, Katherine, Breifne, the late Jenny, Michael and Marcus. Jenny had Down’s Syndrome and was the heart of the family. She was the boss! She had a great life until she died.

“Her death was heartbreaking, but I wouldn’t have changed anything. In spring every year, I look out at a tree gifted to me by a friend. It flowers around the time of her death, April, and every time I look at it I think of her. It’s big now. She died forty years, ago in 1984.

“I’m very fortunate in that my children are in Ireland. They have made their homes in Dublin, Wicklow, Cork and Kilkenny.”

Continue reading in this week’s Ireland’s Own