Richard Hayward (actor)

Richard Hayward (1892–1964) was a British film actor, writer and musician.

Life and career
Born in Southport, Lancashire, his family moved to Ireland when he was a baby. Hayward was an enthusiast for all Ulster regional popular culture. He was a member of the Orange Order, to which he dedicated much time. After a period working at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin he helped form the Belfast Repertory Theatre Company. He was a popular singer in the forties and fifties. His career meant he lived a typical theatrical lifestyle being constantly on the move.

Hayward wrote a number of travel books about Ireland, exploring every county. He was closely associated with the Belfast Naturalists' Field Club, serving as its president in 1951.

Death
He died due to a road accident outside Ballymena, in October 1964.

Selected filmography

 * Flame in the Heather (1935) - Fassiefern
 * The Voice of Ireland (1936)
 * The Early Bird (1936) - Daniel Duff
 * The Luck of the Irish (1936) - Sam Mulhern
 * Shipmates o' Mine (1936) - Mike Dooley
 * Devil's Rock (1938) - Sam Mulhern
 * Irish and Proud of It (1938) - Donogh O'Connor
 * A Night to Remember (1958) - Victualling Officer (final film role)

Hayward also wrote the screenplay of the musical drama Devil's Rock.

Selected books
He wrote a number of books, mostly topographical, about Ireland, including:


 * In praise of Ulster (Arthur Barker, 1938)
 * Where the Shannon flows (1940)
 * Corrib Country (Dundalgan Press, 1943)
 * In the Kingdom of Kerry (Dundalgan Press, 1946)
 * Leinster and the city of Dublin (Arthur Barker, 1949)
 * Ulster and the City of Belfast (Arthur Barker, 1950)
 * Belfast through the ages (Dundalgan Press, 1952)
 * Connacht and the city of Galway (Arthur Barker, 1952)
 * Story of the Irish Harp (Arthur Guinness, Son & Co., 1954)
 * Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim & Roscommon (Arthur Barker, 1955)
 * Munster and the city of Cork (Phoenix House, 1964)