Emmy Accolades For Ireland

The Irish film industry has received major international acclaim this week as Irish star Brendan Gleeson and Irish director Dearbhla Walsh scooped an Emmy Award at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards which took place in Los Angeles.
The award-winning actor Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter, In Bruges) won his first Emmy award in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie category for his performance as Winston Churchill in the UK drama Into the Storm.
Irish director Dearbhla Walsh was awarded the prize for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special category for her work on the BBC drama Little Dorrit.
Two out of the six nominations in this category were for Irish directors. Walsh was nominated alongside fellow Irish director Thaddeus O'Sullivan who was nominated for his work on the HBO drama Into The Storm.
Walsh has just finished directing episodes of The Tudors the final series which is currently filming in Wicklow.
Simon Perry, Chief Executive of the Iirsh Film Board (IFB) said: "It's great to see, amid the gloom of such a recession, that the flames of Irish talent burns as brightly as ever. Irish directors, actors, writers and film crew are a great asset to Ireland, and these awards will ensure that we continue to retain our international reputation for creativity and innovation."
Ireland received ten Emmy award nominations in total between the Emmy Creative Arts awards and the Primetime awards.
The Emmy Awards are considered one of the most prestigious international awards for television entertainment and are regarded as the television equivalent to the Academy Awards for film.
(BMcC/GK)