President Hails Golden Globe Achievements

As US President-elect Barack Obama gets ready for his biggest media performance to date - the inauguration on January 20th - another state leader, Irish President Mary McAleese has been hailing success in another great media event, the US-based Golden Globe awards.

Both she and Irish Arts Minister Martin Cullen have joined in congratulations for Irish actors Gabriel Byrne and Colin Farrell on winning prestigious accolades.

Byrne won for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Drama) for his role as a psychoanalyst in the US medical drama 'In Treatment', while Colin Farrell scooped 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 ceremony just held in Los Angeles.

Northern Ireland-born Mrs McAleese said the awards were a fitting recognition of the great talent of both actors.

She added: "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'.

Gleeson featured in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) category for his part in 'In Bruges'.

Arts Minister 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."

The Minister also used the news to fly the flag for the indigenous film trade and said recent changes by his Government to the Section 481 tax relief scheme will now allow the Irish film sector to compete internationally.

He said that he hoped it would bring major productions to Ireland while strengthening home-produced film and TV.

Meanwhile, though the Golden Globes achieved a huge audience, a truly global one will watch their TVs next week in fascination.

In just over a week's time the President-elect first attends a church service - a tradition Franklin D. Roosevelt began in 1933 - and then, alongside the outgoing President, George Bush, Obama will make history in the US capital for the swearing-in ceremony of the first ever black US leader.

(BMcC/JM)