The principal of Murphy’s old secondary school said he “absolutely” expects students to be inspired by the Corkman’s Oscar win.
Senior Irish politicians and film sector organisations have congratulated Murphy on becoming the first Irish-born star to win an Oscar for best actor.
The 47-year-old, who is from Douglas, Cork, said he was “overwhelmed” by the win and is “a very proud Irishman”.
He dedicated the award for his performance as J Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, to “peacemakers everywhere” and thanked his “partner in life and art” Yvonne McGuinness and his two sons, Malachy and Aran.
Murphy’s Oscar win follows other successes on the awards circuit – with a Golden Globe, a Bafta and a Screen Actors Guild award bagged for his starring performance in Oppenheimer.
David Barry, the principal of Murphy’s former school, said they are “absolutely delighted”.
“Presentation Brothers College are delighted for Cillian and his family on his success in winning the Oscar. We’re so proud to have one of our past pupils so successful on the world stage,” Mr Barry told the PA news agency.
“The whole community is delighted and we want to congratulate Cillian on his fantastic success.
“Hopefully when he’s back in Cork he might be able to visit us.”
He added: “I suppose from his speech last night you can see that he was very supportive of everyone who helped him in his journey to winning the Oscar, he’s very clear and grounded in where he’s from as well and that comes from his own family background where he had supportive parents and a supportive family now.
“Your roots are really important and Cillian has worked abroad so often but really never forgets his roots and visits his parents regularly.
“Because he has such a busy schedule getting back to Ireland and Cork brings him back to who he is really.”
Asked whether students would be inspired by his win, Mr Barry said: “Oh absolutely.
“The students here have always been big fans of him, even before Oppenheimer.
“We’ve a big piece of artwork from our senior arts students – we did a collage made out of aluminium tins in the character of Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy’s character in the hit TV show Peaky Blinders) and that’s up in the school corridor.
“He’s always about for us really in our thoughts as the kids walk through the corridors everyday.”
He added: “The harder you work, the luckier you get. So if you put in the efforts you will get the rewards eventually, no matter what field you’re in.”
Murphy’s breakthrough role came in 2002 with the Danny Boyle film 28 Days Later, playing a bicycle courier who wakes from a coma to discover that the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the breakdown of society.
He also had memorable roles in Breakfast On Pluto, The Wind That Shakes The Barley, and Sunshine, and stars in the 2024 adaptation of the Claire Keegan novel Small Things Like These.
Cillian Murphy’s wife, Yvonne McGuinness, congratulates him on winning the best actor Oscar (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Irish politicians and creatives have lined up to congratulate Murphy on his Oscar win.
A post from the President of Ireland’s account on X, formerly Twitter, said that it was a “wonderful achievement” and the win was “so appropriately dedicated” to the peacemakers.
Ireland’s deputy premier Micheal Martin said that Murphy gave an “outstanding” performance in a film “that will stand the test of time”.
Mr Martin, who is also a Corkman, said: “At Lee side in Cork, (we’re) delighted for him and for his wonderful family and the nation as a whole all rejoice in a well deserved Oscar award for Cillian Murphy.”
Culture Minister Catherine Martin said the award was “a fitting recognition” of Murphy’s “immense” talent.
“Long a favourite of Irish audiences on stage and screen, he has since shown himself to be a master of his craft and has secured his place among the world’s greatest actors,” she said.
“This Oscar success is no more than he deserves and I wish him every success in all his future films.”
She also congratulated the cast and crew of Poor Things, co-produced by Dublin-based Element Pictures, which secured 11 Oscar nominations and won four awards.
“2023 was a hugely successful year for Irish film production and Irish talent. I hope this Academy Award is a starting point for more success and acclaim for the large pool of talent existing in the Irish film industry,” she said.
Desiree Finnegan, chief executive of Screen Ireland, said: “Sincere congratulations from everyone at Screen Ireland to Cillian Murphy on winning the Academy Award for best actor.
“We are delighted to see such a talented Irish artist receive worldwide recognition and critical acclaim for his extraordinary performance.
“Throughout the years Cillian Murphy has delivered so many outstanding performances in Irish films, from Disco Pigs to The Wind That Shakes The Barley, and more recently in Small Things Like These, and we look forward to working with him again in the future.
“We hope that the next generation of Irish film-makers and artists watching Cillian bring his Oscar home will be inspired to continue the pursuit of their craft in the Irish film industry.”
(PA Graphics)
Ireland’s ambassador to the US, Geraldine Byrne Nason, said it was a “great night for the Irish”.
“Congratulations to the incredible Irish winners at Oscars2024,” she tweeted.
“Great night for the Irish in Hollywood!
“Our own Cillian Murphy’s performance in Oppenheimer makes him the first Irish-born actor to take home the Oscar for Best Actor & Element Pictures take home four awards!”
