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Ireland's best hopes of an Oscar rest on Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan accepting her best actress award for her role in Lady Bird earlier this year
Saoirse Ronan accepting her best actress award for her role in Lady Bird earlier this year Saoirse Ronan accepting her best actress award for her role in Lady Bird earlier this year

IRISH hopes are high for Oscar glory at this weekend’s 90th Academy Awards.

Actress Saoirse Ronan is one of five nominees with Irish links who will be keeping their fingers crossed at the glittering event tomorrow in Los Angeles.

She has been nominated in the best actress category for her role in the Lady Bird.

Earlier this year the 23-year-old won a Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical for her part in the film.

Local film buffs will also be keeping their eye out for director Martin McDonagh who has been nominated for his original screenplay for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. The film has been nominated across seven categories

Born in London to Irish parents McDonagh wrote, produced and directed the hit film.

Three-time best actor winner Daniel Day-Lewis has again been nominated in the category for his performance in Phantom Thread.

Born in England, he is also from an Irish background and has close ties to the country.

Other local hopefuls include three-time nominated costume designer Consolata Boyle who has been put forward for her work on the costume design in Victoria and Abdul.

Co Kilkenny based Cartoon Saloon has been shortlisted for The Breadwinner in best animated feature.

Actor Gary Oldman leads British hopes for a gong at the awards in the best actor category for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour.

This year’s event takes place in the backdrop of a sexual harassment scandal that has rocked Hollywood and is likely to dominate the ceremony.