Edgar Rice Burrough’s novel, Tarzan Of The Apes, introduced the world to its titular hero when it was published in 1912. Its story of the man raised in the jungle by apes and his mate, Jane, sparked the imagination of millions of readers leading to twenty-three sequels. A film version of the tale ensued in 1918 when Elmo Lincoln became the first in a long line of actors to play the Ape Man. Of the many that followed, Johnny Weissmuller emerged as cinemagoers favourite incarnation of Burrough’s immortal creation. He shared his popularity with the Irish actress who co-starred with him as Jane: Maureen O’Sullivan.
Born in Hollywood House, Bracknagh, Co. Offaly (then called the King’s County) in November 1857, John Joly got his secondary education in Rathmines School, Dublin. He entered Trinity College in 1876 and graduated in Engineering in 1882. He remained in Trinity and his first position was as a demonstrator in both Trinity’s Engineering and Physics departments, acting as assistant to the professors.
He was born in New Ross on the 20 March, 1874, and raised in Carlow, when his father died in 1903 the family moved to Phibsborough, Dublin, and he was to spend the rest of his life there as an insurance agent and dedicated lifelong republican. Henry O’Hanrahan played a leading role in the fight for freedom and the battle for the republic and he died in the Mater Hospital in Dublin on the 20 September, 1927, aged 53, and is buried in Glasnevin, with many others who were his comrades in the battle for independence.
