- Culture
- 24 Jan 18
Both the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan and the Minister for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon have congratulated the five Irish nominees in the upcoming 2018 Academy Awards.
Daniel-Day-Lewis, Martin McDonagh and Saoirse Ronan have all received nominations for their work from the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences.
While Cartoon Saloon’s ‘The Breadwinner’ and Irish costume designer Consolata Boyle have also received nominations for Best Animated Feature and Best Costume Design respectively.
Minister Madigan said: “This year’s Oscar nominations showcase the great breadth of Irish talent within the film industry and shows our contribution to international cinema.
“I was delighted to see Saoirse Ronan nominated for her third Oscar at the age of just 23. This is testament to her very special talent.
She added: “Cartoon Saloon, based in Kilkenny, has been shortlisted for its new animated film The Breadwinner.
"It was great to see them in the running Best Animated Feature, building on the success of their previous films. The beautifully crafted The Secret of Kells was nominated in 2010 and the stunning Song of the Sea was nominated in 2015.
“Costume designer Consolata Boyle, also twice previously nominated, is in the running this year for Victoria and Abdul. I was very pleased to see her getting much deserved recognition for her beautiful costumes and designs.
“Writer-director Martin McDonagh and actor Daniel Day-Lewis have deep roots in Ireland and I also wish them success at the upcoming awards.”
Minister for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciaran Cannon said: "As the most iconic trophy in the international entertainment world, the Oscar represents the pinnacle of recognition by the film industry and it is wonderful to see Irish artists included among the nominees.
“It is particularly encouraging to see that Saoirse Ronan, at only 23-years of age, has received her third Oscar nomination for her role in Ladybird, having been previously nominated as Best Supporting Actress in Atonement (2008) and Best Actress in Brooklyn (2016).
“While these nominations are a tribute to the energies of each of these individuals, they are also proof of the finesse of Irish artistic talent and a strong signal that the stage-Irish depictions so prominent in the early days of Hollywood have long been relegated to the past.
“These artists have given true expression to the depth, breadth and skill of Irish creativity and their work reflects the cultural richness and diversity of our Irish communities worldwide.
“I extend my warmest congratulations to them, their families and colleagues in the entertainment industry.”