'I was rooting for him': Praise for Cillian Murphy following Golden Globes win
Cillian Murphy at the 81st Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Photo by Michael Buckner/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images
The film and centered around two fictional brothers and their fight for independence.
Actor and magician Gerard Kearney from Montenotte, who played the supporting role of Donnacha in the production, said he was delighted to hear of Cillian’s victory.
“He was the exact same back then as what you see in interviews today,” he told The Echo.
“Cillian was always very professional and dedicated on set. Normally, we would drive to the set each day but there was the odd overnight stay if we were filming in a location like Ballyvourney. In these situations, everyone would go for a drink or have dinner together. However, Cillian was such a dedicated professional he would disappear after filming wrapped up to focus on the next day’s work.”
He recalled the actor’s down-to-earth nature.
“On occasion I would bring him home from Bandon and he was always so down to earth and easy to talk to. We would have regular conversations about what was happening in Cork and there was never any sense of self-importance. He was the same on set. He never came across like a diva or even a movie star. There was never any fuss of any kind. He was never the loudest guy in the room even though he had every right to be. He was there to work and kept his head down.”
The former child star, who made a name for himself in the 1994 flick The War of the Buttons, said he will be rooting for Cillian Murphy to scoop an Oscar.
“I know Barry Keoghan was in the running for a Golden Globe too. I was following both and would have been happy for either of them. However, being a Cork man, I was rooting for Cillian. Fingers crossed he will win the Oscar next. That would be amazing.”
Mr Kearney spoke about how the star passed on his regards during an audition he attended for ‘Small Things Like These’ in Wexford which stars the actor.
“I auditioned with my 12-year-old son Cian last year. They offered the two of us minor roles but unfortunately, we were in Lanzarote when the call came through. While Cillian wasn’t at the audition he passed on his regards which was really nice.”
Meanwhile, Shane Casey, who plays Billy Murphy in the BBC comedy series The Young Offenders and also featured in The Wind that Shakes the Barley, had similarly fond memories of working with the star.
“Working in West Cork on The Wind that Shakes the Barley, was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I was very lucky to work with some fantastic people and Cillian is certainly one of them. I’m sure I’m not the only one who worked with him on that film who was delighted for his recent success. Long may it continue. I’ve no doubt all the ‘Wind That Shakes The Barley boys’ are very happy for Cillian today.”
Tánaiste Micheál Martin took to X to congratulate Cillian Murphy.
"Richly deserved award for a supremely talented actor. A superb performance by Cillian in a year of some incredible Irish screen performances."
Lord Mayor of Cork City, Kieran McCarthy posted: "Major congratulations..such a talented actor but also such a hard grafter across your career from community theatre to Hollywood movies."
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