James FitzSimons
was born Sept. 11, 1927 in Ranelagh, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland. He was
the youngest of six children of Margurita and Charles FitzSimons. Quoting
big sister Maureen, "Jimmy was the baby of
the family and we called him 'Poooor Jimmy' because he was his mother's little
darling." Although Educated in
Catholic boys' schools in Dublin for academics, Jimmy possessed the same
talents as his older siblings and went on to enroll for training in the performing
arts at the Abbey Theater in Dublin, becoming an Abbey Player. It was
John Ford who suggested the stage name "James Lilburn" and he cast him as
Father Paul in "The Quiet Man" in 1951. Brother Charlie, was cast as
Forbes, the IRA man.
Jimmy
loved motorcycle racing and won the famed Leinster 500 in Dublin in
the 1950s. Recently a gentleman from England, Bill Hiscose,
contacted me stating that he had acquired the 1947 Manx Norton motorcycle
which was initially owned by Jimmy FitzSimons. He said the machine
was in complete original condition with matching engine and frame numbers.
Bill said he had always been interested in motorcycles and had a
small collection at his home in England. (picture below).
After Jimmy and Charlie
came to the United States to shoot the interiors at the Republic studio
for "The Quiet Man" they both eventually pursued their own careers
here. Below they are enjoying some pool tiime with sister, Maureen
O'Hara - a star at Fox and Universal Studios.