The funeral of Academy Award winner Brenda Fricker is taking place in the Liberties in Dublin. Fricker, among the most respected Irish actors of her generation, died last month at the age of 81. Spontaneous applause broke out on Meath Street when Fricker’s remains arrived at St Catherine’s Church. Her wicker casket was carried into the church, draped in the flag of Dublin city – a green flag adorned with a harp, and the three burning castles of the city’s coat of arms. Guests in attendance include actor Brendan Gleeson, director Jim Sheridan, costume designer Joan Bergin, RTÉ chief executive Kevin Bakhurst and presenter Ray D’Arcy.Fricker became the first Irish woman to win an acting Oscar when she took the best supporting actress prize in 1990 for Jim Sheridan’s My Left Foot. Brenda Fricker. Photograph: Ted Dayton/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images She appeared across stage and screen in a career spanning six decades. Other than her Oscar-winning role, she is perhaps best known for appearance in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.She also appeared in The Field, A Time to Kill and Veronica Guerin.She was also part of the original cast of BBC medical drama Casualty and featured alongside Cate Blanchett in Veronica Guerin (2003), as well as appearing in ITV drama Upstairs, Downstairs and soap opera Coronation Street.Brendan Gleeson arrives for the funeral of Brenda Fricker at St Catherine's Church in Dublin. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire [ Brenda Fricker’s life in pictures: Beloved actor, Oscar winner and unmistakable DublinerOpens in new window ]Her later roles included the TV adaptation of Graham Norton’s first novel Holding, directed by Kathy Burke, and the Channel 5 drama series The Catch.TV presenter Ray D'Arcy arrives for the funeral of Oscar-winning actor Brenda Fricker at St Catherine's Church in Dublin. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire Fricker also made numerous stage appearances in plays such as Lavender Blue and A Pagan’s Place at theatres including the National Theatre and Royal Court Theatre in London.Fricker was born and raised in Dublin. Her mother, Bina, from Kerry, was a languages teacher, while her father Desmond worked in the Department of Agriculture and as a journalist for The Irish Times. Costume designer Joan Bergin arrives for the funeral of Oscar-winning actor Brenda Fricker at St Catherine's Church in Dublin. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire Fricker was predeceased by her parents, her ex-husband Barry Davis and sister Gráinne.A family note on RIP.ie said Fricker’s death was “deeply regretted and lovingly remembered” by her niece Billie, nephew Chimo, grandnieces and grandnephews, her best friend Liz, neighbours and a wide circle of friends around the world and in Ireland.