IRELAND has had such an effect on the Oscars that the Emerald Isle can even claim to have spawned the man behind the actual Oscars statuette.
Here is a comprehensive list of every Irish person ever to win an Academy Award...
CEDRIC GIBBONS
Picture: The Academy AwardsFrom: Dublin
What they won: 11 Best Art/Set Direction Oscars between 1930 and 1956 for The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1930), The Merry Widow (1934), Pride and Prejudice (1940), Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Gaslight (1944), The Yearling (1946), Little Women (1949), The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), Julius Caesar (1953) and Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956).
Trivia: Gibbons is credited as the original designers of the famous ‘Oscar’ statuette.
GEORGE BERNARD SHAW
Picture: The Academy AwardsFrom: Synge Street, Dublin
What they won: Best Adapted Screenplay for Pygmalion (1938).
Trivia: Shaw is the only person ever to be awarded both a Nobel Prize (Literature, 1925) and an Academy Award.
BARRY FITZGERALD
Barry Jenkins (left). Picture: GettyFrom: Walworth Road, Portobello, Dublin
What they won: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Going My Way (1944).
Trivia: Fitzgerald is the only performer to be nominated for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor for the same film.
MICHELE BURKE
From: Kildare Town
What they won: Two Best Makeup Oscars for Quest for Fire (1981) and Dracula (1992).
Trivia: She moved to Canada at the age of 14 and worked as a model in Montreal before becoming a makeup artist.
JOSIE MACAVIN
From: Monkstown, Dublin
What they won: Best Art Direction for Out of Africa (1986).
Trivia: MacAvin is the only Irish person to win both an Emmy (Scarlett, 1994) and an Academy Award.
DANIEL DAY LEWIS
From: London. His father was born in Ballintubbert, Co. Laois and he has dual citizenship. He currently lives in Wicklow.
What they won: Three Best Actor Awards for My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007) and Lincoln (2013).
Trivia: Day Lewis is married to Rebecca Miller – daughter of the famed playwright Arthur Miller who once married Marilyn Monroe.
BRENDA FRICKER
From: Dublin
What they won: Best Actress in a Supporting Role for My Left Foot (1989).
Trivia: She originally planned to be a journalist like her father Desmond, who worked for The Irish Times.
NEIL JORDAN
From: Sligo
What they won: Best Original Screenplay for The Crying Game (1993).
Trivia: Jordan studied Irish history and English literature at UCD before he became a screenwriter.
PETER O’TOOLE
From: O’Toole had two birth certificates with two birthplaces – one Leeds, one Connemara.
What they won: Lifetime achievement (2003).
Trivia: He worked as a tea boy at the Yorkshire Evening Post later becoming a reporter before following his dream to be an actor.
MARTIN MCDONAGH
From: His parents are from the west of Ireland and he lives in Galway.
What they won: Best Short Film (Live Action) for Six Shooter (2006).
Trivia: Although all his plays except for The Pillowman are based in Ireland he has never lived full time in the country.
GLEN HANSARD
From: Ballymum, Dublin
What they won: Best Song for Once (2008)
Trivia: Bob Dylan was such a big fan of Hansard’s film Once that he arranged to have he and co-star Markéta Irglová open for him on part of his world tour.
RICHARD BANEHAM
From: Tallaght, Dublin
What they won: Best Visual Effects for Avatar (2010)
Trivia: He studied at Ballyfermot Art College before moving to California to pursue his career.
TERRY AND OORLAGH GEORGE
From: Belfast
What they won: Best Short Film (Live Action) for The Shore (2012).
Trivia: Terry George directed award-winning Hotel Rwanda (2004) and In The Name Of The Father (1993).
MAUREEN O’HARA
From: Ranelagh, Dublin
What they won: Lifetime Achievement (2015).
Trivia: Screen legend O’Hara earned the nickname 'The Queen of Technicolour'.
BENJAMIN CLEARY
From: Dublin
What they won: Best Short Film (Live Action) for Stutterer (2016).
Trivia: During his acceptance speech, Cleary said: “Every day is a proud day to be Irish, but today even more so… Sláinte!”
