Last month, it was fifty years since Colman ‘Tiger’ King died. King was one of the three central figures in Man of Aran, Robert J. Flaherty’s celebrated 1934 documentary. Filmed on Inishmore, the film offered a (romanticised) vision of life on the Aran Islands and became an international success. The leading roles were played by King, Maggie Dirrane, and the young Michael Dillane (later registered as Dorrane).
Audiences worldwide praised the trio for their natural presence. The Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette wrote in May 1934:
“This film which, in bringing to the screen the life-long courage and endurance of a brave and simple people, pays homage to the spirit that characterizes the whole of Ireland.”
After the London premiere, the three travelled through the UK, Ireland, and the United States on a promotional tour. Maggie eventually returned to Inishmore. Colman and Michael left the island and never returned. When Colman died in 1976, his body was brought home and buried at St. Enda’s Cemetery in Killeany. At the funeral, his brother said: “My brother said he would give his two eyes to see Aran again. He sees it now – at least his spirit will.” In St. Patrick’s Church in Galway, a memorial service was held, where crowds of people came to pay their last respects to ‘the Tiger’.
Call for Information
Much is known about the making of the film, its reception, and the promotional tour. But from the start of the Second World War onward, the traces of Colman King and Michael Dillane fade almost entirely. What is known: Colman lived and worked in London until his death; Michael, registered as Dorrane, was wounded in Normandy in 1944, where he served as part of the 1st Battalion (1RUR).
Illustrator and researcher Monique van Dongen is creating a graphic novel about Man of Aran, exploring the film’s impact on the island and the lives of its three main figures. The story touches on broader themes: identity, displacement, longing, and the ways stories can shape a community. Van Dongen hopes to hear from anyone who knew them or their families, or who has stories, photographs, letters, clippings, maps, documents, or personal anecdotes about their later lives. She is especially seeking information about: the lives of Colman King and Michael Dillane after the the premiere, and the memorial service at St. Patrick’s Chruch in Galway.
Monique van Dongen is a Dutch illustrator and researcher. She creates graphic narratives based on real events and real lives. Her debut, Jaap’s Silence (Het zwijgen van Jaap, 2026), reconstructs her father‑in‑law’s wartime past. Her work brings together research, history, visual art, and narrative. She would really love to hear from anyone that can provide some information about Colman and Michael, or the service at St Patricks.
Contact: Monique@Levitt-communicatie.nl
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