President Mary McAleese and Minister for the Arts Martin Cullen have congratulated Irish actors Colin Farrell and Gabriel Byrne on their Golden Globe wins last night.
Byrne was named Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama) for his role as a psychoanalyst in the US medical drama In Treatment, while Farrell won Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) for the film In Bruges.
The winners were announced at the 66th Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills last night.
Mrs McAleese said she the awards were a "fitting recognition of the great talent" of both actors.
“The nomination of four Irish actors, including Brendan Gleeson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers, underlines the continuing excellence and reputation of Ireland in the performing arts.”
Meyers was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television series (Drama) for his role in the Canadian/Irish co-production The Tudors,while Gleeson featured in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) category for his part alongside Farrell in In Bruges.
Mr Cullen said the Golden Globes are significant international awards and were indicative of the talent and versatility of Byrne and Farrell.
“It was an auspicious night in America for innovative Irish talent and it demonstrates that we have some of the best international artists whose individual creative ability continues to occupy centre stage,” he added.
Mr Cullen said recent changes by the Government to the Section 481 tax relief scheme will allow the Irish film sector to compete internationally to bring major productions to Ireland while strengthening home-produced film and TV production.
The Arts Council joined in the congratulations, with its director Mary Cloake saying the awards showed the high regard Irish actors are held in .
"Today, the taxpayer can also take a bow," she said. "The continued high achievement of Irish arts on the international stage is a tribute to the vibrant, creative society in which we now live, and we recognise the vital role that public investment in the arts has played in sustaining this."