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From the Oscars to the Olympics: Nine Reasons to Be Excited About Ireland’s 2024
Despite the challenges and tough moments that 2024 brought, there were plenty of reasons to smile and celebrate in Ireland. Here’s a rundown of some of the highlights that made this year memorable. **Cillian Murphy’s Oscar Win** The year kicked off with a thrilling moment for Ireland: Cillian Murphy won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster. The entire country was buzzing with pride. In addition to the Oscar win, Murphy and his wife, artist Yvonne McGuinness, made headlines by purchasing the Phoenix Cinema in Dingle. His performance in *Small Things Like These* also garnered positive reviews, and the film performed well at the box office in both Ireland and the UK. Although Murphy is reportedly taking a break from acting, we can look forward to the *Peaky Blinders* film on Netflix, where he stars alongside Barry Keoghan. **An Incredible Olympics and Paralympics** With the Olympics taking place in Paris this year, Irish viewers didn’t have to deal with late-night broadcasts. Ireland had an impressive presence, with 133 athletes competing in 16 sports and 35 athletes across six sports in the Paralympics. The Irish team made us proud, with gold medal wins from Daniel Wiffen, Kellie Harrington, Fintan McCarthy, Paul O'Donovan, Rhys McClenaghan, and a thrilling near-medal finish by the women’s 4x400m relay team. The Paralympic Games also saw six medal wins from Katie-George Dunlevy, Róisín Ní Ríain, and Orla Comerford. **Seán Ronayne’s Impact** One of the heartwarming stories of the year was the success of *Birdsong*, a documentary featuring ornithologist Seán Ronayne. He used the platform to raise awareness about the importance of protecting Irish nature while also advocating for neurodiversity. Ronayne’s memoir, *Nature Boy*, earned him further recognition, including at the Irish Book Awards. **The Kabin Crew’s Global Success** Who could have predicted that a group of young kids from Cork and Lisdoonvarna would make one of the best songs of 2024? Their track *The Spark* garnered over 50 million streams on Spotify and made headlines worldwide. The collaboration between Cork’s rappers and children from Direct Provision in Lisdoonvarna resulted in a feel-good anthem that was longlisted for two Grammy categories. The kids even found time to release a Christmas song. Truly an uplifting story! **Taylor Swift Mania** In June, Ireland was swept up in Taylor Swift’s *Eras* tour. Swift charmed fans with her three-night stint at the Aviva Stadium, where she praised Ireland for its storytelling tradition and unique accents. The event left fans buzzing for days. **Paul Mescal’s Continued Success** Paul Mescal continued to shine in 2024, starring in the blockbuster *Gladiator II*, which received solid reviews and performed well at the box office. The Kildare native, who was already a star after his Oscar nomination and his work in *Normal People*, has now firmly cemented his place in Hollywood. With talks of potential Oscar buzz surrounding *Gladiator II*, Mescal’s rise shows no sign of slowing down. **Nicola Coughlan Steals the Spotlight** May brought the return of *Bridgerton*, with Irish actress Nicola Coughlan shining as Lady Penelope Featherington. Coughlan was not only recognized for her role, but also for her advocacy, as she raised nearly €2 million for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. Her candid approach and humor made her an even more endearing public figure. **Irish Authors Dominate the Literary Scene** Irish authors continued to make waves globally. *Wild Houses* by Colin Barrett made the Booker Prize longlist, and Sally Rooney’s *Intermezzo* became the fastest-selling book in Ireland this year. Additionally, Oprah selected books by Colm Tóibín and Claire Keegan for her book club, further elevating the global presence of Irish literature. **Kneecap’s Groundbreaking Year** West Belfast’s Irish language hip-hop trio Kneecap had a phenomenal year. Their album *Fine Art* was a hit, and their film *Kneecap* made over €1 million at the box office in the UK and Ireland. The trio also won a legal battle over UK government funding and were shortlisted for an Oscar. 2025 is sure to hold even more exciting accomplishments for Kneecap. In a year that had its challenges, these stories show the resilience and creativity that continue to define Ireland. Looking ahead, there’s no telling what incredible achievements the country will celebrate next.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
When Will the Oscars Recognize Motion-Capture Acting?
Picture the future: it’s the Oscars 2034, and the best actor prizes are no longer split into male and female categories. Instead, there is an award for best performer in a live action role, and another for best actor in a performance capture role. Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks can finally go head-to-head for their epic turns in Sophie’s Choice II and Even Bigger respectively, while Zoe Saldana and Andy Serkis are up for the latter for their startling performances in Avatar 6 and The Lord of the Rings: What Gollum Did Last Summer.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
Oscars 2025: Will Directors Continue Embracing Global Perspectives?
The awards season is heating up, and the Golden Globes have stirred conversations about this year’s potential Oscar nominees. Among those recognized are two exceptional women directors whose films have left an indelible mark in 2024: Payal Kapadia for the poignant All We Imagine as Light and Coralie Fargeat for the visceral body-horror thriller The Substance. While the Globes remain a controversial entity—often criticized for their profit-driven motives—their nominations for these films have sparked hope for broader recognition at the Academy Awards.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
The Oscar Live Stream
For the first time in its 97-year history, the Academy Awards ceremony will be available for live streaming. The Oscars will stream on Hulu simultaneously with its broadcast on ABC, marking a major shift in how audiences can access Hollywood's biggest night.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
Ariana Grande Expresses Willingness to Perform at the Oscars with Cynthia Erivo: 'Just Say the Word, and We're There
Grande received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes for her role in Wicked, marking a significant milestone in her career. She is also considered a frontrunner in the same category for the Academy Awards, set to take place in March. Although Wicked’s iconic songs are not eligible for the Best Original Song category—where performances of nominated songs are a staple of the Oscars telecast—the possibility of Grande and co-star Cynthia Erivo performing at the event has sparked excitement.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
The Lion King’s Storied Oscars Legacy
Mufasa: The Lion King is poised to potentially continue The Lion King’s legacy at the Oscars in 2025. Disney, which has been capitalizing on live-action remakes of its animated classics, is now expanding into new territory with prequels. This includes Mufasa: The Lion King, a prequel to the 2019 “live-action”/CGI remake of the beloved animated classic. Directed by Barry Jenkins, this film uses the same photorealistic animation style as its predecessor to tell the origin story of one of Disney’s most iconic characters.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
The Bibi Files" shortlisted for Academy Award in Best Documentary category
The documentary The Bibi Files has advanced to the Academy Awards shortlist for Best Documentary, shining a spotlight on the legal troubles of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The film, featuring leaked footage of Netanyahu and his family during police interrogations in a high-profile corruption case, is among 15 contenders vying for one of five coveted nomination slots.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
What We Know So Far About the 2025 Oscars
The 2024 Oscars delivered unforgettable moments, from Ryan Gosling’s electrifying performance of “I’m Just Ken” from Barbie to a nearly naked John Cena cameo, along with a series of heartfelt wins. As Hollywood prepares for its next big night, here’s everything we know so far about the 2025 Oscars.
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
2025 Oscar Predictions
The Oscars season has arrived and with nominations set to be blazoned on 17 January, it's time to make some" bold" prognostications, said Screen Rant. While certain flicks are" well deposited" to win, with colorful sets of data enabling" educated protrusions", it's important to flash back that" there is always room for surprises".
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
2025 Oscar Predictions: Who Are the Likely Winners?
The Oscars season has arrived and with nominations set to be blazoned on 17 January, it's time to make some" bold" prognostications, said Screen Rant. While certain flicks are" well deposited" to win, with colorful sets of data enabling" educated protrusions", it's important to flash back that" there is always room for surprises".
By The Academy Awardsabout a year ago in Art
