"I am delighted to congratulate Daniel Day-Lewis on winning the Oscar for Best Actor and Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová on winning the Oscar for Best Song at the Academy Awards in Los Angeles last night," she said today.

"2008 has been a tremendously successful year for Irish cinema, as witnessed by the many international nominations and awards already garnered. Last night's achievements at the Oscars are a further sign of the inexhaustible supply of creativity and talent with which this country has been blessed."

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Seamus Brennan also praised those involved with Once, saying: "All involved in the funding and making of Once, especially the Irish Film Board, deserve our fullest congratulations and gratitude for having the foresight to realise the potential of this simple yet captivating story."

Pictured above at the Oscars reception for songwriter and composer nominees are Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, with VP of the Academy Charles Bernstein and expat Cork composer Kim Carroll, who recently won the Gold Medal at Utah’s Park City Film Music Festival for his score to The Colony.