Home town of Markéta Irglová celebrates her Oscar success

The young Czech musician Markéta Irglová charmed many around the world with her winning appearance at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony, where she and her Irish partner Glen Hansard took the award for best original song for Falling Slowly. Markéta, who only graduated from secondary school last summer, is from the quiet south Moravian town of Valašské Meziříčí. However, perhaps it isn’t so quiet at the moment: local people have been celebrating her wonderful success – and are now considering how they should honour the 19-year-old. Irena Brauwerová works at the Town Hall in Valašské Meziříčí and is an old friend of the Irgl family. I spoke to her earlier.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, photo: CTK

“It’s amazing. It’s such a special atmosphere here. We smile at each other and everybody lives by the idea how tremendous Markéta’s victory was. So yes, there is a very special atmosphere. People are talking about her and they are discussing what to do and how to express to her and to Glen Hansard their joy and their appreciation.”

Does the city plan to organize any special event when Markéta comes back from the United States?

Valašské Meziříčí

“We have just been talking about it and we are also going to discuss it at the Town Hall. We want to give her a special award of the mayor and I hope that we will organize some event to award her.”

As far as I know your husband teaches English at Markéta’s high school and you yourself have known her family for quite a long time. What was she like when she was a child and do you think she has changed with all the success she has been having?

“I have been a family friend for many, many years. My daughter played with Markéta and her sister Zuzana, so we know each other quite well. I think she has always been brave, intelligent, a little bit introvert and shy. And I believe Markéta will stay as humble as she is now.”