Designer"s creations at Oscars night

An Irish designer whose gowns will be worn by two of the Oscar nominees at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles later this month has strong Meath links. Donald Brennan, one half of the prestigious Tyrrell and Brennan Design House, has been commissioned to design dresses for two of the nominees. Donald is a son of the late Donald Brennan, a native of Spiddal Cross, Nobber, and Olive Brennan from Cushinstown. The Irish short film, 'New Boy", is in the running for Oscars in two categories and director Steph Green and producer Tamara Anghie will be wearing Tyrrell and Brennan creations on the red carpet on Academy Awards night. In the world of fashion, most designers could only dream of designing a dress for the Oscars, but Donald has already designed six dresses for the Oscar ceremonies, including two dresses for Enya and another for her lyricist, Roma Ryan, both of whom were nominated for Best Theme Tune with 'Lord of the Rings". When Jim and Kirsten Sheridan were nominated for best screen play for the film 'In America", three of the Sheridan girls were wearing Tyrrell and Brennan creations. Donald Brennan grew up in Cambridgeshire in England but was a regular visitor home to Nobber and Cushinstown as a child. His aunt, Amy Brennan, and his uncle, Brendan, and his wife, Bernie, both still live at Spiddal. Donald"s grandfather, the late Tommy Brennan, was a tailor and although Donald doesn"t remember him, his skills have obviously been passed onto his grandson. Donald is a self-taught designer and met up with Galway designer Niall Tyrrell while working in Paris, and they decided to return to Ireland and set up in Dublin. Tyrrell and Brennan was set up 14 years ago and the design house has built a reputation as being leading Irish couturiers. Donald"s success this year is tinged with sadness as his father died suddenly before Christmas. 'I know that he was proud to hear of many of our achievements. I think for a man that left Ireland 50 years ago to find work in England, he can rest knowing that his offspring now represents Ireland internationally,' Donald said. Donald was passionate about art and fashion from a very early age and was making and customising clothes from the age of 11. Donald and Niall have been responsible for dressing some of Ireland"s most stylish ladies, including top businesswomen, TV personalities and entertainers. Former Miss World, Rosanna Davison, wore a Tyrrell and Brennan dress that had almost 40 metres of silk chiffon in it to the VIP Style Awards while they have also dressed Glenda Gilson, Andrea Roche, Katherine Thomas and Celia Ahern for red carpet events.