Many tributes were paid to the gifted lighting designer Rupert Murray who died aged 55 of cancer last August, writes Patsy McGarry.
Murray was posthumously awarded the best designer: lighting award at Sunday night's ceremony for his work last year on the Gate production of Catastrophe and Play by Samuel Beckett, as well as the Rough Magic production of The Taming of the Shrew.
The announcement was greeted by a standing ovation.
Host Pauline McLynn said: "Rupert Murray is greatly missed by all who were lucky enough to work with him or know him as a person or indeed as a member of the Theatrical Cavaliers cricketing team."
His wife Sheelagh Power said she was delighted to accept the award, "a tribute to Rupert's beautiful work in the theatre". She also commended Sinéad McKenna Wallace, who had been his assistant on the plays nominated.
Irish Times managing editor Gerry Smyth said: "While the past year in Irish theatre has had its moments of joy and its share of success, both at home and internationally, it has left its mark too in a much sadder way and taken from the profession one of its most creative talents.
"I refer to the much-admired and greatly missed Rupert Murray . . . a past recipient of awards here and a man whose impact on Irish culture has been immense when you take into account his role in Irish theatre and his other contributions, especially his reimagining and revitalisation of our national holiday, the St Patrick's Day celebrations, and his input into Riverdance and the Special Olympics."