Tributes pour in for The Commitments actress after sudden death

Dubliner Annie had a stellar career over the decades, appearing in numerous films and TV shows.

Among her standout roles were as Mrs Rabbitte in The Commitments, Mrs Cahill in The General and Rose Kennedy in P.S I Love You.

She played Angelea O’Connell in Fair City from 2005 to 2026, also made an appearance in Coronation Street as Patti Truman in 2018 and as Carmel Donovan in Red Rock in 2017.

She recently played the part of Sheila in Baz Ashmawy’s Faithless, also appeared as Deirdre in five episodes last year in The Woman In The Wall and as Nora Goggin in Holding.

Annie was an acclaimed stage actress too, starring in productions such as From These Green Heights, Waiting For Elvis and Cleaners.

The actress was originally from Mount Pleasant Square in Dublin’s Ranelagh, before locating in recent years to Gorey Co Wexford.

Fellow actress Pauline McLynn, who famously played Mrs Doyle in Father Ted, said: “Annie was one of the most beautiful souls and most talented people I ever met or worked with – we laughed a LOT making Holding in West Cork and that’s how I will always remember her. all solace and condolence to you now x.”

Fair City star Stephanie Kelly, who plays Sash Bishop in the soap, added: “Sad to hear the news of Annie passing. Such a lovely lady. Thinking of all her loved ones. Rest in peace ❤️.”

Actor Joe McKinney, who has starred in Bad Sisters and Glenore, and is memorably known as the dancing man in the Guinness Anticipation TV ads in the 1990s, noted: “Night night, Annie.Rest In Power. Love and Light. Joe X.”

A notice on RIP.ie said Annie died suddenly on June 4 at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin surrounded by her loving family.

“Beloved wife of Pierce H and mother of Pierce T and Jayne. Adored loving Nana of Hannah, Aimee, Lucie, and Alice and sadly missed by her daughter-in-law Jenny, son-in-law Greg and her surviving brothers and sisters Terry, Jane and Charlie and sister-in-law Trish her nephews, nieces, extended family, relatives, neighbours and friends,” the notice read.

Her remains will be reposing at Murphy’s Funeral Home in Gorey tomorrow from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Funeral Service will take place on Saturday 8th June at 11.45 a.m. at The Church of The Holy Name, Beechwood Ave. Upper, Ranelagh, Dublin 6.

There is a live link for those who cannot attend at https://www.churchservice.tv/beechwoodchurch followed by a celebration of her life at 1.45 p.m. at Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harold’s Cross, Dublin which can be viewed on the following link http://www.mountjerome.ie/victorian-chapel-service/