Val Vousden or Bill MacNevin (29 Jan 1885 â€" 6 Jun 1951) was an Irish
actor, poet, and playwright.Bill MacNevin was born William Francis
Maher MacNevin on 29 Jan 1885 on College Street, Carlow, he was later
known by his stage name Val Vousden. His mother, Eliza Maher, was a
teacher in St Joseph's National School. He debuted on stage in 1891 as
Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol in Carlow Town Hall, going on appear in
small productions under the guidance of Julia Kelly. He was schooled
in the local Christian Brothers National School and Mungret College,
Limerick, before joining the Royal Engineers as a clerk in 1904. He
left the Engineers in 1905, being discharged on medical grounds, going
on to join a drama troupe which toured Ireland and England, performing
under the name Bartley Hynes. He returned to Carlow in 1910 to appear
in the Deighton Hall on Burrin Street in Penny Readings. He later
produced a sketch, Art and Laughter, in the Town Hall. He left again
to tour with Carrickford Repertory Company until 1914. Vousden joined
the army in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I, serving in France and
rising to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Welsh Regiment.
He married fellow actress, Pearl O'Donnell, touring the country
performing together. The couple had three daughters, Sheila, Mona and
Patricia.Returning to Ireland, he joined Roberto Lena's company in
Newbridge and then acted for a season with the Queens in Dublin, by
which time he was using the stage name Val Vousden after 19th century
Irish entertainer Valentine Vousden. For the next three years he was
with the O'Brien and Ireland Company, working with May Craig and
Peadar Kearney. After the advent of radio broadcasting in Ireland,
Vousden presented the first light entertainment show, being a regular
contributor to Irish radio until his death. He taught elocution
lessons in a number of schools and colleges. He wrote a number of
plays, sketches, and poems published as a volume entitled Recitations,
Monologues, Character Sketches and Plays, and wrote his autobiography,
Val Vousden's Caravan. Vousden regularly acted as part of the Abbey
Players in the Abbey Theatre. He acted in a number of films, including
Irish Destiny (1926), Captain Boycott (1947), The Odd Man Out (1947),
and Uncle Nick.Vousden died on 6 June 1951 in Clonskea Hospital,
Dublin, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. The 50th anniversary of
his death was marked 9 June 2004 in the Carlow County Library.
actor, poet, and playwright.Bill MacNevin was born William Francis
Maher MacNevin on 29 Jan 1885 on College Street, Carlow, he was later
known by his stage name Val Vousden. His mother, Eliza Maher, was a
teacher in St Joseph's National School. He debuted on stage in 1891 as
Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol in Carlow Town Hall, going on appear in
small productions under the guidance of Julia Kelly. He was schooled
in the local Christian Brothers National School and Mungret College,
Limerick, before joining the Royal Engineers as a clerk in 1904. He
left the Engineers in 1905, being discharged on medical grounds, going
on to join a drama troupe which toured Ireland and England, performing
under the name Bartley Hynes. He returned to Carlow in 1910 to appear
in the Deighton Hall on Burrin Street in Penny Readings. He later
produced a sketch, Art and Laughter, in the Town Hall. He left again
to tour with Carrickford Repertory Company until 1914. Vousden joined
the army in 1914 at the outbreak of World War I, serving in France and
rising to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major of the Welsh Regiment.
He married fellow actress, Pearl O'Donnell, touring the country
performing together. The couple had three daughters, Sheila, Mona and
Patricia.Returning to Ireland, he joined Roberto Lena's company in
Newbridge and then acted for a season with the Queens in Dublin, by
which time he was using the stage name Val Vousden after 19th century
Irish entertainer Valentine Vousden. For the next three years he was
with the O'Brien and Ireland Company, working with May Craig and
Peadar Kearney. After the advent of radio broadcasting in Ireland,
Vousden presented the first light entertainment show, being a regular
contributor to Irish radio until his death. He taught elocution
lessons in a number of schools and colleges. He wrote a number of
plays, sketches, and poems published as a volume entitled Recitations,
Monologues, Character Sketches and Plays, and wrote his autobiography,
Val Vousden's Caravan. Vousden regularly acted as part of the Abbey
Players in the Abbey Theatre. He acted in a number of films, including
Irish Destiny (1926), Captain Boycott (1947), The Odd Man Out (1947),
and Uncle Nick.Vousden died on 6 June 1951 in Clonskea Hospital,
Dublin, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery. The 50th anniversary of
his death was marked 9 June 2004 in the Carlow County Library.
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