The ashes of acting legend Peter O’Toole are to be buried in Galway, overlooking the sea on the West Coast of Ireland.
It was O’Toole’s wish that his final resting place would be in the idyllic spot, near the home of his daughter Kate O’Toole.
O’Toole as a close friend of Irish President Michael D Higgins. His ashes are being held in Aras an Uachtarain, which is the official residence of the President and is located in Phoenix Park, Dublin.
A ceremony to celebrate the life of O’Toole was held at the Old Vic Theatre in London. Kate told the audience, which included the likes of Kevin Spacey, Stephen Fry, Jeremy Irons and Omar Sharif, that her father’s wish was to be buried ‘where his roots lie.’
O’Toole died in London in December last year, aged 81. Kate brought his ashes home to Ireland and asked the President to keep them in a safe deposit until she was able to return home and fulfil her father’s wishes.
President Higgins told the 350 strong audience: “We all know that time spent in Peter’s company could never be described as monotonous. He transformed the most routine or mundane experience into exciting drama. This extended to his recreation and his love of sport. I recall on many occasions watching football matches on the television with Peter and he shouted loudly and encouragingly at the screen.
“Over the years I received many messages, always pithy, on matters political or cultural, or both. Rugby was, of course, one of Peter’s great passions. After I was elected President, he wrote to me to not only convey his good wishes but to impishly suggest that we could now both get good seats at the Six Nations test matches and to count him in for the Aviva.”
O’Toole’s acting career lasted almost 60 years, from 1955, until his death in 2013. He won four Golden Globes, a BAFTA, an EMMY and received an honorary Academy Award in 2003.
Some of his best known films include Laurence of Arabia, Goodbye Mr Chips and The Lion in Winter.
Peter O’Toole leaves daughter out of his will
