Abrams, Ronan to be honored at Irish gala

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S.-Ireland Alliance says it plans to honor J.J. Abrams, Saoirse Ronan and Seamus McGarvey at a gala in Los Angeles.

The director-writer-producer, actress and cinematographer-director are to be feted at the fifth annual "Oscar Wilde: Honoring the Irish in Film" event March 4 at the Ebell of Los Angeles.

Colum McCann, a 2009 National Book Award winner, is to serve as master of ceremonies, while the Irish band Bell X1 is expected to perform at the gala. The event is to take place days before the Academy Awards are to be presented.

"Academy Award nominees often feel the luck of the Irish from this event," Alliance President Trina Vargo said in a statement. "Bill Monahan was honored, and went on that year to win an Academy Award for 'The Departed.' Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed at the event just before winning an Academy Award for their song 'Falling Slowly.' Last year, three nights before winning her first Oscar, Kate Winslet took the stage to honor her agent, Hylda Queally."