A statue honouring Hollywood legend Maureen O’Hara in West Cork has been removed after just 48 hours on public display because people felt it didn’t look like her enough.

Locals of West Cork village Glengarriff were outraged that the bronze sculpture did the actress “a disservice” and felt it hardly resembled her.

Over 1,000 people posted online expressing their horror and outrage at the work of art, the Irish Mirror reports.

The statue had been commissioned by Cork County Council at a cost of €33,000.

It was only erected at a specially built site in the picturesque village last Wednesday, but then was suddenly taken away without any explanation after the public backlash on Friday.

This was the second attempt to have a statue made of her. A previous one made a few years ago that was never publicly displayed was canned because it also didn ‘t look like her enough.

One local said: “This is like the moving statue of Glengarriff. For whatever reason we seem to have a problem getting a sculptor to make a statue that looks exactly like Maureen and keep everyone happy. I am sure it is a very difficult job to do.

“Sculptors will argue that the piece does resemble her, and in fairness they may have a point, but the locals don’t agree.

“Maybe because the statue is bronze it is difficult to make it so real life and to portray all of her natural beauty. The people of Glengarriff all loved Maureen and are very protective of her beauty and legacy.”

The striking redhead is loved in West Cork, as the Dublin-born actress spent many years at her impressive Glengarriff home.

In 1970, The Quiet Man star bought the 35 acre Lugdine Park estate and lived there on and off for over 30 years until moving there permanently in 2005.

Maureen and her late husband Charles Blair acquired the property with the pioneering sea plane pilot describing the house as “Perfect” while driving down the avenue.

The star died in her sleep at 95 seven years ago in October 2015. She is buried in Arlington National cemetery, Washington DC.

Cork County Council has so far not commented on why the statue depicting the Hollywood star was removed.

Some local people believe the council should now forget the statue project and it would be more fitting if she was remembered with a park bench and a plaque with her name on it.