The grand old man of Irish theatre

Noel Purcell epitomised Irish theatre for decades. The birthday tribute to him on the Late Late Show was a classic.

Well versed on stage, screen and TV he was one of only 74 people to be declared a Freeman of Dublin. The honour was conferred on him and his long time colleague Maureen Potter on the same day.
He was a true blue Dub, born in the heart of the city in Mercier Street just off Stephens Green. He got his name from the fact that he was born on December 23. As a young lad he had a job as a call boy at the Gaiety Theatre, just around the corner from his home and this gave rise to his interest in theatre. He was also apprenticed as a cabinetmaker and shop fitter and he lost the tip of one of his fingers at his trade. He later used that to dramatic effect in Mutiny on the Bounty. Carpentry quickly gave way to stage work and he devoted himself full time to his new trade.
In the early years he learned his craft in the Gaiety and other Dublin venues and he worked in one of the greatest training places of all time, the touring companies – or “fit ups” where he regularly toured the country with Jimmy O’Dea and Fred O’Donovan.
Off stage he even recorded. Leo Maguire, the man who used to present the Walton’s programme on Radio Éireann (if you feel like singing do sing an Irish song) wrote the Dublin Saunter for him after the war. Purcell performed it live for many years but when they eventually recorded it, there were very few sales.
Maguire did not make much from it either because, with his family young at the time, he sold the copyright to Waltons. Later in the 80s Purcell recorded a spoken version of the Pete St John song Dublin in the Rare Ould Times.
At a very early stage he started working on films and he appeared in his last role in the Irish RM in 1984 – the year before his death. His first film appearance was in 1926 in The Blarney. Set around the newly created border, Jimmy O’Dea plays a salesman who finds a case of stolen jewellery. Rodney Malcolmson plays an RUC sergeant and Purcell a Garda Sergeant both of whom try to catch the thieves while at the same time trying to impress the local publicans daughter.
He worked in some very well known films. In 1947 he was in the making of both Odd Man Out, with James Mason and Captain Boycott, with Stewart Granger. Possibly two of his better known ones were Moby Dick in 1956, Mutiny on the Bounty in 1962 and he also worked on Rooney in 1958 which involved film of some of the All-Ireland hurling final. He worked in comedy and was in many of the Doctor series of films.His television work included Dr Finlay’s Casebook, The Avengers, The Saint, The Onedin Line and Dixon of Dock Green. All in all, his film and TV career spanned 58 years.
Noel Purcell, the grand old man of Irish theatre and a Freeman of Dublin, passed away in his native city aged 84 years on March 3, 1985 – 26 years ago this week.