One Oscar for Ireland, 'Hurt Locker' sweeps the board

Dubliner Richard Baneham has won an Oscar for his work on visual effects on 'Avatar', but it was director Kathryn Bigelow and 'The Hurt Locker' who emerged as the victors from the battle of the blockbusters at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles last night.

Baneham, one of five Irish nominees in animation categories, was congratulated on his achievement by Arts Minister Martin Cullen, and himself paid tribute to his fellow Irish nominees saying it was a fantastic achievement for such a small nation.