The future of the prestigious George Mitchell scholarships, which allows top US students to study in Ireland for a year, is under threat due to the withdrawal of funding by Irish and American governments, businesses, and philanthropists.

Some of the biggest names in Irish movies, theatre, and entertainment were feted in LA last night ahead of Sunday’s Oscars.

Efforts are being made to bring the president of the US Ireland Alliance Trina Vargo before an Oireachtas Committee after she accused Enda Kenny of embarrassing the country by presenting “shamrockery” gifts to US president Barack Obama.

A Co Clare-born agent to the stars will be honoured at a special ceremony next month paying tribute to the Irish in the film industry.

IRISH star of cinema and TV Fionnula Flanagan has pulled out of this year’s US-Ireland Alliance pre-Oscar awards in a row over the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US.