Let's nip this bullshit in the bud. When Michael D founded the Irish Film Board in 1993, our film industry could be charitably described as a "cottage industry" employing a few hundred technicians. Today it is worth €692 million & directly/indirectly employs 11,960 people.

In the 90s, the few hundred people employed in our film industry were based out of our only studio Ardmore, & eked out a living via commercials, & the occasional foreign film. We made approximately 1/2 films a year in the 1980s/early 90s. Compare that to after the IFB's founding

We also have *at least* 5 studios capable of handling the largest of TV epics & the biggest Hollywood studio productions. These productions don't just employ our film crews, but hundreds of ancillary businesses, not to mention the thousands of fans & tourists who flock here.

And more than that. We've been able to nurture a strong, brilliant generation(s) of confident Irish storytellers. Directors like @lennyabrahamson, writers like @markohalloran. Telling & sharing *our* stories, that resonant with audiences around the world.

And Actors! There are simply too many Irish actors performing at the highest levels of the industry to mention. And please remember all these wonderfully talented people started in theatres and dramas that wouldn't have been possible with Arts Council funding.

& Animation! With the closure of Bluth studios in the 90s, the entire industry in Ireland was on its knees. Now? We have not only 2 studios producing Oscar winning animated films, but also half dozen studios producing brilliant & beloved animated TV shows.
https://twitter.com/MichaelJLeader/status/1314895188268118017?s=20

Better people than I could talk about the growth in Irish literature & music in our lifetime. And I'll admit our Arts Council/funding is not perfect. But the idea of suffering through this pandemic without Irish artists & storytellers doesn't bear thinking about.
#TheArtsMatter

I was lucky enough to be in the audience when Michael D presented Martin Scorsese with the John Ford award.

His eloquent & moving introduction included deep insights on Ford’s influence on Scorsese’s work. There’s not a single head of state like him.

#NationalFuckingTresaure https://twitter.com/martinfoyle/status/1315301358405382144

That was actually the 2nd time I got to see Scorsese speak at an Irish industry event. The first time was about twenty years ago where teenage me manage to *deeply* embarrass myself in front of both Lauren Bacall *and* Gregory Peck.

But that’s a whole other thread...

/namedrop