<P> In the 1920s , Sean Thornton ( John Wayne ) , an Irish - born American from Pittsburgh , travels to Ireland to reclaim his family 's farm and his birthplace in Inisfree . He meets and falls in love with the fiery Mary Kate Danaher ( Maureen O'Hara ) , the sister of the bullying , loud - mouthed landowner Squire `` Red '' Will Danaher ( Victor McLaglen ) . Danaher , who had wanted the farm himself , is angry that the Widow Tillane ( angered by Danaher 's admission that he had discussed her in the local pub ) accepts Sean 's bid , and retaliates by refusing consent for his sister to marry . Several town locals , including the Catholic priest , Father Lonergan ( Ward Bond ) and the village matchmaker ( and bookmaker ) Michaleen Oge Flynn ( Barry Fitzgerald ) , conspire to trick him into believing that the wealthy Widow Tillane ( Mildred Natwick ) wants to marry him , but only if Mary Kate is no longer living in his house . After learning the truth on Sean and Mary Kate 's wedding day , an enraged Will refuses to give his sister her dowry which is made up of a large sum of money and her family possessions passed down from her mother . </P>
what year does the quiet man take place
In the 1920s