irishfilmtv.com

Two of Hollywood’s most respected actors shared a touching moment at the 25th annual Irish Arts Center Gala, where Liam Neeson (ABSOLUTION), an honorary chair of the New York City-based center, presented his dear friend Meryl Streep with the Spirit of Ireland Award. Their friendship, which blossomed after co-starring in the 1996 film , BEFORE AND AFTER, has endured for decades.

In accepting the honor (previously bestowed on Stephen Colbert), Streep, the most Oscar-nominated actor in history with 21 nominations and three wins, delved into her rich Irish heritage. She traced her lineage to her great-great-grandmother Grace Strain, who was born in County Donegal in the 1830s. Grace’s journey took her to Philadelphia at age 14, where she met her husband Manus McFadden, eventually leading to the family’s settlement in New Jersey, where Streep was born.

The award ceremony highlighted not only Streep’s impressive career but also her ongoing connection to Irish arts. She recalled her previous support of Irish culture, including her participation in a fundraising event for a Belfast arts center during the filming of MAMMA MIA in 2007.