Entertainment

Major Oscar disappointment for main Irish contender, The Banshees of Inisherin

Henry Tadeusz Farrell, from left, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Mary Gleeson arrive at the Oscars on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Picture by AP Photo/Ashley Landis
Henry Tadeusz Farrell, from left, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Mary Gleeson arrive at the Oscars on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Picture by AP Photo/Ashley Landis

THERE was major disappointment for the main Irish contender for Oscar success after The Banshees of Inisherin went home empty-handed.

Despite nine nominations and hailed as the most Oscar-nominated Irish film ever, Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy failed to secure any wins on Sunday night.

All four of the film’s main stars; Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon had received top acting nods, alongside McDonagh for best director and original screenplay.

But it was Everything, Everywhere All At Once and All Quiet On The Western Front that were the night’s big winners.

Despite the disappointment, McDonagh said it had been a "crazy" time in the lead-up to the Academy Awards in Los Angeles.

Speaking during the pre-Oscar champagne carpet event, he said: "It’s done (well) all over the world, it’s kind of strange for a small-ish Irish film to have done all that, but we like it."

An Cailín Ciúin, which was nominated for best international film, also missed out on the award, which went to All Quiet on the Western Front.

As well as the Oscar win for An Irish Goodbye, there was success for Dubliner Richard Baneham, who was among those who won one of the coveted gongs for visual effects for Avatar: The Way Of Water.

President Michael D Higgins said it had been a "remarkable" year for the Irish film industry.

"May I congratulate An Irish Goodbye and Richard Baneham for their fantastic achievements in winning the Best Live-Action Short Film and Best Visual Effects Awards respectively at last night's Oscars ceremony," he said.

"May I further extend my congratulations to Colin Farrell, Paul Mescal, Kerry Condon, Brendan Gleeson, Barry Keoghan, Jonathan Redmond and all involved with An Cailin Ciuin and The Banshees Of Inisherin for the exceptional recognition of their work which being nominated for an Academy Award constitutes.

"This has been a remarkable year for the Irish film industry and is a testament to the hard work of so many people over recent decades.

"It is particularly welcome to see the recognition which the Irish film industry is receiving on what is the 30th anniversary of the reestablishment of Bord Scannan na hEireann/the Irish Film Board, now Screen Ireland, in 1993.

"The success which we are seeing is built on the acquisition of skills and pursuit of excellence by all in the Irish film community."