He was collecting the award for his performance in gritty Irish drama Cardboard Gangsters.

John Connors used his acceptance speech at the IFTA awards to take a shot at the Irish Film Board for failing to support the Mark O’Connor directed movie set in Darndale.

“We’d like to thank the BAI and TV3, and the Irish Film Board,” he said in front of the likes of President Michael D. Higgins and Gabriel Byrne.

“Oh no wait, the Film Board didn’t fund us. They said they didn’t like our approach.”

He also discussed the discrimination he has experienced as a member of the Travelling community in the film industry.

“Despite the fact that I can’t get an agent to represent me, and no filmmakers or casting directors will look past the fact that I am a Traveller, this is still a huge moment for me.”

The speech has won many plaudits from a variety of sources online:

Watch it in full here:

Via: YouTube