PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins has held a special St Patrick’s Day reception in Dublin to celebrate members of the Irish Film, Audio-Visual and Performing Arts Communities.
Held at Áras an Uachtaráin, among those who attended the gathering on Friday was Belfast director Ross White and Belfast actor James Martin from An Irish Goodbye, winner of the Oscar for Best Live-Action Short Film.
Also there was actor Brendan Gleeson.
The reception took place less than a week after there was a record 14 Irish nominations at the Academy Awards.
Speaking at the event, President Higgins said it gave him "great joy and pleasure to witness the attention that is being given to the hard-earned success of our film community".
"This recent success of Irish film may be a surprise to some, but for those working in film it is welcome recognition of what they have been building towards over recent decades with the aid of Government policies and artist support.
"It is a community that was sustained heroically and is being pushed ever forward creatively. More and more Irish films, including animated films, are receiving recognition and critical acclaim abroad."
He added: "That Ireland is now correctly regarded as an important hub for film-making, including post-production activities, is a real achievement by all those in the different generations who have worked to bring it about".
