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Flanagan to receive IFTA honour

Actress Fionnula Flanagan is to receive the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award at the Irish Film and Television Awards in Dublin next month.
1 of 1 Flanagan - "I am bowled over to be chosen by the Irish Academy to receive this wonderful Award"
Flanagan - "I am bowled over to be chosen by the Irish Academy to receive this wonderful Award"

Previous recipients of the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award include Maureen O'Hara, David Kelly, Pierce Brosnan, Neil Jordan, John Boorman and Morgan O'Sullivan.

Reacting to the announcement, The Guard and Some Mother's Son star Flanagan said: "I am bowled over to be chosen by the Irish Academy to receive this wonderful Award.

"It is a great honour to be invited to join the ranks of the gifted former recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award and, having checked, I am encouraged to find that their work lives continue, some even flourishing, so that if I learn my lines and hit my marks and don't bump into the furniture, my own career might just continue on also.

"All the more enriched by this beautiful recognition from my IFTA colleagues to whom I say a big thank you!"

Vote for your TV Moment of the Year for the chance to win a VIP night at the IFTAs: http://www.rte.ie/ten/tvawards2011/

IFTA Chief Executive Áine Moriarty said: "IFTA is proud to pay tribute to one of Ireland's finest actresses, celebrating her work spanning almost 50 years and showcasing her great skill and craft in illuminating every character she has portrayed, captivating audiences around the world.

"Fionnula is a wonderful representative internationally, of Ireland's film and television industry and continues to support home productions along with her international work; she has the greatest respect from her peers here at home."

Flanagan, who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Guard, has just completed filming on Life's a Breeze, the new film from Kisses director Lance Daly.

The Irish Film and Television Awards take place at the Convention Centre, Dublin on Saturday 11 February at 9.30pm and will be shown live on RTÉ One.

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