The stars of the Emerald Isle descended upon the Ebell of Los Angeles on Thursday night for the 20th Oscar Wilde Awards. Hosted by the US-Ireland Alliance, the evening honored actors Domhnall Gleeson and Maura Tierney, alongside filmmaker Lee Cronin, in a celebration that traded Hollywood formality for a casual "Irish house party" vibe.
Honoring Excellence in Film
The night was filled with wit and warmth as industry titans presented the honors. J.J. Abrams presented to Gleeson, his longtime collaborator from the Star Wars franchise, playfully calling him the world’s most famous "ginger." Gleeson reciprocated with a self-deprecating tale about recording his lines on a loop during naps to "subconsciously" learn them—only to wake up and make his co-stars forget theirs.
Horror maestro Jason Blum introduced Lee Cronin, joking that Cronin’s terrifying films (including the upcoming The Mummy) were "stomach-churning" enough to replace weight-loss drugs. Cronin reflected on the power of the US-Ireland connection, noting, "Ireland has a lot of stories to tell. Let’s put them together and keep doing it."
Maura Tierney was honored by longtime friend Monica Horan Rosenthal. Tierney shared a moving tribute to her grandmother, who emigrated from Leitrim in 1926, and told a humorous story of how her family’s resilience—and a loan from a South Boston pub owner—helped "sprung" her from jail during her early acting days in LA.
A Major Philanthropic Milestone
The evening took a historic turn with a surprise announcement: an anonymous donor has pledged $2 million to the Alliance’s scholarship program as a matching grant. This comes as the organization rebrands the prestigious program following the removal of George J. Mitchell’s name.
Strengthening Creative Ties
The event continues to be a powerhouse for industry connections, with introductions from previous years leading directly to films like Richard Linklater’s Blue Moon shooting in Ireland. Guests, including Oscar nominees and executives from Netflix, Disney, and Sony, enjoyed a traditional spread of Irish stew, Guinness, and Taytos while watching musical performances by Dermot Kennedy and Dave Lofts.
As the 2026 awards season reaches its peak, the Oscar Wilde Awards remain a vital bridge between the "big landmass" of Hollywood and the storied landscapes of Ireland.
