James, his dad revealed, has been diagnosed with a form of cerebral palsy known as Angelman Syndrome, and as a result the youngster has been developmentally delayed in many areas. Colin told the Sunday World that James is quite the trooper regardless who has a whole bunch of love and support to fall back on.

"He took his first steps about six weeks ago and it was four years in the making. All the work is his, he worked his arse off for four years," Colin said. "And when he took the first steps it was incredibly emotional. There wasn't a dry eye in the house."

What a lovely scene that must have been. James, says his proud movie star dad, is a child with "amazing courage," and is an "incredibly happy boy."

"With my son the only time I'm reminded that there is something different about him - that he has some deviation of what is perceived to be normal - is when I see him with other four-year-olds," Colin says. "Then I go, 'Oh yeah' and it comes back to me. But from day one I felt that he's the way he's meant to be."

Colin shares custody of James with Bordenave who, he says, has been terrific in helping James secure the best medical attention possible. Though he lives in LA with his mom James has been to Ireland to meet with all the Farrells, and the Independent says he's also spent time with Colin and his girlfriend Muireann, an Irish student.

When the Special Olympics were held in Ireland in 2003, Farrell was on hand as a special ambassador and attended many of the events. He could have scarcely imagined that only a few months later, he'd be parent to a child with special needs.

"It's mad the way the world works. It's bizarre. I experienced the overwhelming effect of being around those athletes pretty much just before my son was born with special needs," he said.

"I have never thought of my son as being someone with a disability. It goes back to special needs and what is a disability and what isn't."

And it also goes back to love, which Colin is obviously capable of dispensing in unlimited doses. He says he is "incredibly blessed to have him in his life, "and will stop at nothing to ensure that the child is "as happy as he can be."

Colin Farrell may not have an Oscar - yet - but he's clearly got something much more important and meaningful in his life. More power to him.