Irish nominees return disappointed

IT was disappointment for the big Irish nominees at the 2005 Tony Awards in New York early yesterday morning as the three major Irish contenders failed to secure a prize.

Cork director John Crowley was nominated for his direction of The Pillowman, by London-Irish playwright Martin McDonagh, who received a best play nomination for his work. And Irish actor Brian F O’Byrne was nominated for best leading actor in a play. All three went home disappointed.

If there was a high-profile Irish success it was an Irish-American success, however, as writer John Patrick Shanley won in the best play category for Doubt, his story of abuse in the Catholic Church and the innocence (or guilt) of a popular parish priest, played by O’Byrne.