Hylda Queally, Brendan Gleeson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers to Be Honored at Fourth Annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish in Film'

Hylda Queally, Brendan Gleeson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers to Be Honored at Fourth Annual 'Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish in Film'

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The US-Ireland Alliance, a non-profit organization created to foster ties between the US and Ireland, will honor Hylda Queally, Brendan Gleeson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers at the fourth annual "Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish in Film" Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the Wilshire Ebell. Kate Winslet will present Queally her award. Irish musicians Gemma Hayes, Laura Izibor and Republic of Loose will perform.

"We are excited to honor three talented and prominent members of the film community," said Trina Vargo, US-Ireland Alliance Founder and President, "Hylda, Brendan and Jonathan are representative of the myriad talents in the Irish film community. We are honored to have the chance to celebrate their many successes."

Hosted by the US-Ireland Alliance, this annual Hollywood event has become the fun, casual Irish party preceding the Academy Awards. The event features an awards program, cocktails, food and live music. This year, Irish musicians Laura Izibor, Gemma Hayes and Republic of Loose will perform. In past years, partygoers have enjoyed Van Morrison, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, Irish musician Duke Special and a number of others. The party is a favorite among celebrities, studio executives, writers, directors and other Hollywood luminaries, as it provides a lighthearted evening with a relaxed atmosphere in an intimate setting. While performing a few years ago, Van Morrison was inspired to give jazz singer Solomon Burke, who was in the audience, a microphone and the two sang an impromptu duet of Stand By Me. Last year, Glen Hansard jumped on a cocktail table with his guitar and led the crowd in a rousing rendition of the Irish song "The Auld Triangle."

Previous honorees include James L. Brooks, Colm Meaney, Fiona Shaw, Van Morrison, Terry George, Bill Monahan, Neil Jordan, Jim Sheridan and David Holmes. The event brings out a host of luminaries such as Al Pacino, Jodie Foster, Terrence Howard, Anjelica Huston, Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Roma Downey, Mark Burnett, Rachel Griffiths and Orlando Bloom.

Sponsors of the event include Culture Ireland, American Airlines, Quinlan Private and the Walt Disney Studios.

Source: US-Ireland Alliance

CONTACT: Lindsay McConchie of Katy Sweet & Associates, +1-323-852-0772,
lindsay.katysweet@sbcglobal.net, for US-Ireland Alliance

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