IRISH ACTRESS Saoirse Ronan has been nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for her leading role in Lady Bird.
It’s the third Oscar nomination for the 24-year-old, having previously been nominated as Best Actress for Brooklyn and Best Supporting Actress for Atonement in 2008.
Saoirse Ronan's name announced at the Oscar nominations ceremony this afternoon. (Picture: YouTube)Ronan joins Sally Hawkins, Frances McDormand, Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, and Meryl Streep in the Best Actress category.
The Greystones, Co Wicklow native receives the nod for her portrayal of an angst-ridden Californian student in Greta Gerwig’s coming of age film, Lady Bird.
Elsewhere, director and screenwriter Martin McDonagh received a nomination for his much-talked-about drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
In the Best Animated Feature category, Irish made film The Breadwinner received a nomination. It's an incredible achievement for Kilkenny based animation company Cartoon Saloon and director Nora Twomey.
Costume designer Consolata Boyle received a nomination for her work on Victoria and Abdul starring Judi Dench. Boyle has previously been nominated for her work on The Queen and Florence Foster Jenkins.
Consolata Boyle pictured at last year's Oscars. (Picture: Getty Images)President Michael D. Higgins issued a statement congratulating those nominated:
"The shortlist for the 2018 Oscars announced today includes many Irish names, and I wish to send my warmest congratulations to the Irish nominees.
"The shortlist constitutes a fulsome recognition of Irish artists excelling in so many ways. The inclusion of Saoirse Ronan, Daniel Day-Lewis, Martin McDonagh, Consolata Boyle and the Cartoon Saloon in a large number of different award categories demonstrates the vitality, depth and diversity of the creative genius available to the Irish film industry.
"We can all be proud of the achievements of the Irish film community, as it cements Ireland’s international reputation as a country of creativity, imagination and skills.
"With the appropriate care and investment, nurturing creativity and original thinking in all aspects of society, the arts will continue to enrich our lives, not only by creating beauty but also by promoting insights and debate as well as by creating highly skilled jobs.”
