(Gaeilge thíos/Irish below)

Sinn Féin’s spokesperson for Gaeilge, Gaeltacht, Arts and Culture, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, has offered congratulations on behalf of Sinn Féin to all the film-makers, creative workers, actors and crew who played a part in the films which received nominations for last night’s 95th Academy Awards (Oscars) in Los Angeles.

Teachta Ó Snodaigh said:

“Last night will go down in the history books as a pivotal moment for Irish cinema. Our 14 Oscar nominations in total – including two wins – come on the back of a remarkable year of successes, accolades and recognition from around the world.

“They stand as a testament to the high quality of output and sheer dedication which can be seen in the work produced by Irish talent in recent years.

“As a Dub, it gives me particular joy to congratulate Tallaght-native Richard Baneham on his receipt of the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for the incredible work he did on Avatar: The Way of Water along with his colleagues Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett.

“An Irish Goodbye winning Best Live-Action Short will similarly be celebrated across Derry, Saintfield and Templepatrick as wins for the whole community, but in particular for Tom Berkeley, Ross White, the cast, crew and creators who made it happen, yet another example of the creative genius of our island. Those of us who stayed up til the early hours last night were overjoyed to get to join with the chorus in LA’s Dolby Theatre singing Happy Birthday to James Martin whose starring role sees him now taking home a statuette.

“While we offer commiserations to those nominees who weren’t so lucky in their categories, they are all winners in our books, having given Ireland such hope, confidence, and cinematic excellence.

“As spokesperson for the Irish language and the Gaeltacht, I must give special mention to the nomination for An Cailín Ciúin as Best International Picture, which marked a particular high point of achievement at a global level for the dynamic and ever-growing Irish language film sector, and shows what can come from investment in the Irish language.

“Sometimes it takes being recognised for excellence beyond our shores for Irish people at home to realise the value of our unique cultural and linguistic heritage. This remarkable achievement has instilled pride in all those who love our language, whether they speak it or not, and will surely inspire generations to come to unleash their creative potential as Gaeilge.

“The plethora of nominations for The Banshees of Inisherin – the most Oscar-nominated film in Irish history – is a credit to the acting talent, those responsible for the amazing soundtrack, the superb editing, and the incredible writing and direction of Martin McDonagh.

“It has also been a particular cause for celebration on Achill Island and Inis Mór whose communities and natural beauty played an invaluable part in making a film possible that has now garnered 9 nominations.

“That is not to forget the contribution Irish talent has made to films made outside Ireland which has been recognised through these nominations, from Paul Mescal’s outstanding acting in Aftersun to the brilliant editing by Jonathan Redmond on Elvis.

“We in Sinn Féin congratulate all our winners and nominees on the fruits of their work, and we look forward to seeing what they and Irish cinema do next and promise our support to build on the achievements of last night for the future.”

Guíonn Sinn Féin comhghairdeas ar lucht scannánaíochta na hÉireann as an éacht bainte amach ag na Gradaim Oscair – Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD

Ghabh urlabhraí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta, Ealaíon agus Cultúir, Aengus Ó Snodaigh TD, comhghairdeas thar cheann Sinn Féin leo siúd go léir, déantóirí scannáin, oibrithe cruthaitheacha, aisteoirí agus criú, a bhí baint acu leis na scannáin a fuair ainmniúcháin don 95ú Gradaim an Acadaimh (Oscars) aréir i gCathair na nAingeal.

Dúirt an Teachta Ó Snodaigh:

“Mairfidh oíche aréir sna leabhair staire mar pointe cinniúnach don scannánaíocht Éireannach. Tagann an 14 ainmniúcháin iomlán Oscair – 2 buanna ina measc – tar bliain dochreidte gaisce, buanna agus aitheantas as gach chearn den domhain.

“Léiriú ar ardchaighdeán aschur agus fíordhíogras atá le feiceáil leis na blianta beaga anuas sa mhéid atá déanta ag tallann na hÉireann is ea iad.

“Mar Bhleá Cliathach, is cúis áthais é go háirithe comhghairdeas a rá le Richard Baneham Tamhlachta as Gradam Acadaimh a fháil don Mhaisíocht Físe is Fearr a fháil don sárobair déanta aige ar Avatar: The Way of Water in éineacht lena chomhghleacaithe Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon agus Daniel Barrett.

“Déanfar ceiliúradh freisin i nDoire, i dTamhnaigh Naomh agus i dTeampall Phádraig ar bhua An Irish Goodby mar Ghearrscannán Beo-Aicsin is Fearr mar bhua don phobal uile, ach go háirithe do Tom Berkeley agus Ross White, don chliar, don chriú, agus do na cruthaitheoirí atá freagrach as, sampla eile de shárbhua cruthaitheach ár n-oileáin. Dúinn a d’fhan inár ndúiseacht go moch ar maidin, chur sé gliondar inár gcroíthe an deis a bheith againn canadh in éindí leo siúd a bhí in Amharclann Dolby LA ag guí Breithlá Sona ar James Martin atá anois ag tabhairt deilbhín ar ais abhaile leis as ucht a phríomhpháirt sa scannán sin.

“Cé go ndéanann muid comhbhrón leis na hainmniúcháin sin nár éirigh leo ina gcatagóirí féin, is buaiteoirí iad go léir dar linn, tar éis an méid sin dóchas, muinín agus barrfheabhas scannánaíochta a thabhairt don tír.

“Mar urlabhraí don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht, ní mór dom ach go háirithe ainimniúcháin an Chailín Ciúin mar an Fhadscannán Idirnáisiúnta is Fearr a lua. Buaicphointe ar scála domhanda atá bainte amach léi don éarnáil bríomhar scannáin Gaeilge atá fós ag fás, agus léiriú is ea ar cad a thagann ó infheistíocht sa teanga.

“Uaireanta teastaíonn aitheantas thar sáile don bharr feabhais ionas go dtuigfidh Éireannaigh sa bhaile an luach a bhaineann lenár n-oidhreacht aonarach cultúir agus teanga. Ábhar bróid a bheidh sa ghaisce dochreidte seo dóibh siúd go léir ar aoibhinn leo ár dteanga, iad siúd a labhraíonn í chomh maith leo siúd nach labhraíonn, agus is cinnte go spreagfaidh sí na glúnta amach romhainn a mianach iomlán cruthaitheach a fhorbairt trí mheán na Gaeilge.

“Is mór an chreidiúint iad an flúirse ainmniúcháin do The Banshees of Inisherin – an scannáin is mó ainmniúcháin Oscar i stair na hÉireann – dá scoth-oirfidigh, dóibh siúd atá freagrach as an bhfuaimrian, don scotheagarthóireacht, agus don scríbhneoireacht agus léiriúchán dochreidte ag Martin McDonagh.

“Cúis ceiliúradh atá ann do mhuintir Acla agus Inis Mór freisin toisc gur aitheantas atá ann don ról lárnach a bhí ag pobail agus áilleacht na háite i gcruthú scannán atá 9 ainmniúcháin anois bainte amach aige.

“Sin gan faillí a dhéanamh ar an ionchur atá déanta ag tallann na hÉireann ar scannáin déanta lasmuigh d’Éireann atá aitheanta sna hainmniúcháin seo, ó sáraisteoireacht Phaul Mescal in Aftersun go heagarthóireacht iontach Jonathan Redmond ar Elvis.

“Comhghairdeas ó Shinn Féin dár gcuid buaiteoirí agus ainmniúcháin go léir as torthaí a gcuid oibre. Táimid ag tnúth go mór an céad céim eile atá le glacadh acu agus ag scannánaíocht na hÉireann a fheiceáil agus geallann muid gach tacaíocht dóibh chun tógáil ar na gaiscí a baineadh amach aréir don todhchaí.”