Anna Manahan (18 October 1924 – 8 March 2009) was a Waterford born actor who performed on stage, film and television for over 60 years throughout Ireland, Europe, the USA and Australia. Her critically acclaimed roles included ‘Serafina’ in the first Irish production of Tennessee Williams' The Rose Tattoo in 1957, her 1969 role in the Broadway production of Brian's Friel's Lovers, and ‘Mag’ in Martin McDonagh’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane, for which she won a Tony Award in 1998. Her most popular television roles include ‘Mrs. Kenefick’ in Me Mammy, the lead in Leave it to Mrs O'Brien and ‘Mrs. Cadogan’ in The Irish R.M. Amongst the honours Anna Manahan received during her lifetime were the Gold Medal of the Éire Society of Boston in 1984, the Freedom of Waterford City in 2002 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Limerick in 2003.
The collection includes programs, posters, promotional material, correspondence, photographs, published and unpublished scripts, costume designs, press-cuttings and other materials relating to the life and career of Anna Manahan.
