Talk about a wild night!
The US-Ireland Alliance celebrated its 20th Oscar Wilde Awards honoring Domhnall Gleeson, Maura Tierney, and Lee Cronin last night in Hollywood.
Painting the town green and white, guests gathered at the Ebell of Los Angeles. Academy Awards 2026 nominees, industry executives, musicians, and stars of film and TV gathered to celebrate the myriad contributions of the Irish to film.
Former honoree J.J. Abrams, Monica Horan Rosenthal, and Jason Blum were on hand to present awards to the honorees. Comedian Matt Walsh emceed, and Dermot Kennedy and Dave Lofts performed musical sets.
In a surprise announcement during the event, guests learned that an anonymous donor has pledged $2 million to the US-Ireland Alliance’s Scholarship program if other donors step forward to give the same amount. The Alliance recently removed the name of former Senator George J. Mitchell from its prestigious scholarship program after new information came to light as part of the release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein by the Department of Justice. Trina Vargo, founder of the US-Ireland Alliance said, “We welcome this generous pledge of support and hope it inspires others to invest in the continued success of this important program.”
“There’s Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal in Hamnet. Plus many Irish actors populating the new Beatles bio-pics. Mescal as Paul McCartney, Barry Keoghan as Ringo, Saoirse Ronan to play Linda McCartney, and Irish passport holder Joseph Quinn as George Harrison. If they write a screenplay about the Beatles in their 60’s, Bono is sure to be cast,” said Emcee Matt Walsh.
In presenting to Domhnall Gleeson, J.J. Abrams, who directed him in three “Star Wars” films, spoke of his outrage that Gleeson did not make Vogue Australia’s list of the 70 most famous redheads. He noted that Gleeson is so talented and so famous, that “the only way he could be more famous would be if he’s friends with Taylor Swift, which he is! He added, “I’ve been blessed in my career to work with a great number of wonderful actors, but none more brilliant, kind, dedicated, caring, funny, compassionate, famous, or ginger.” Gleeson shared a funny story with the audience of one of his worst moments as an actor.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: (L-R) Trina Vargo, President, US-Ireland Alliance, honoree Maura Tierney, and Monica Horan Rosenthal attend the US-Ireland Alliance’s 20th annual Oscar Wilde Awards at The Ebell of Los Angeles on March 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for US-Irleand Alliance)
All of the honorees thanked US-Ireland Alliance founder Trina Vargo and congratulated her on the organization’s 20th anniversary of the Oscar Wilde Awards. Gleeson said, “It is cool that this is the 20th anniversary of these awards because on the same week in 2006 that Neil Jordan and Jim Sheridan were receiving the first ever Oscar Wilde Awards, that was my first ever week on my first ever acting job in America. I was 22 years old. I was doing a Martin McDonagh play. When I finished that job many months later, I had made friends for life on my first ‘US Ireland Alliance.’”
The event continues to play a vital role in strengthening cultural and creative ties between the United States and the island of Ireland. In just the past year, introductions made at previous years’ events led to the filming in Ireland of two films: the upcoming Ed Burns film, FINNEGAN’S FOURSOME and Richard Linklater’s, BLUE MOON.
Guests celebrated another banner year in film, highlighted by Jessie Buckley, who could become the first Irish woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. A past recipient of the Oscar Wilde Award, Buckley exemplifies the creative excellence Ireland continues to bring to the screen. HAMNET written by Northern Ireland–born author Maggie O’Farrell, alongside director Chloé Zhao, is nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Several Oscar nominees were present. Richie Baneham,John Kelly and Andrew Freedman, and Russell Bowen, along with Andrew Lowe of Element Pictures are nominated in the Best Picture category were all on site.
Enjoying the performances of Dave Lofts and Dermot Kennedy were Florence Road, an Irish band on the rise; several Disney Music Group and Universal Music Group execs, including & Tom Rowland; Emmet Power; Enda Gallery; Tony Anderson; Sat Bisla, and Northern Ireland singer Brooke.
Once again, the celebration took place at The Ebell of Los Angeles, where guests enjoyed a taste of Ireland through an array of favorites like Wilde Irish Gin’s signature cocktails. The Kensington Caterers’ menu featured mini mugs of hearty Irish stew, classic fish and chips, and a crowd-favorite mashed potato bar, along with Taytos, Bushmills Whiskey, Guinness, Five Farms Irish Cream, and a selection of fine Irish cheeses and breads. The iconic Beverly Hills Hotel served as the event’s hotel sponsor.
In addition to support from Screen Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen, Send My Bag—a Northern Ireland company celebrating its 20th anniversary—and Invest Northern Ireland joined as major sponsors of the event.
