In the 96th Oscars in 2024, Irish actor, Cillian Murphy swept up the best actor award with his performance in Christopher Nolan’s film, Oppenheimer. Being only the second Irish actor to collect the award after Daniel Day-Lewis, his portrayal of the titular father of the atomic bomb was recognised as the lead performance of the year.
The film Oppenheimer, did well in the awards ceremony, scooping seven awards from the top nominations. These included best picture and best director for Nolan. The Academy Awards ceremony had few significant upsets and went as anticipated, with Murphy’s win being one of the highlights.
Alongside Oppenheimer, the film Poor Things, helmed by director Yorgos Lanthimos and created by Dublin-based Element Pictures, surpassed expectations, bagging four out of its 11 nominated awards. This includes a second best actress Oscar for the lead star, Emma Stone.
From the stage, whilst accepting his award, Murphy applauded his long-time collaborators, Chris Nolan and Emma thomas, thanking them for the unforgettable, creatively potent journey they shared over two decades. He also expressed his gratitude and love towards his partner, Yvonne McGuinness; and his sons, Malachy and Aran, who he pointed out were in the audience.
He ended his speech by dedicating his award to peacemakers worldwide, acknowledging the paradoxical theme of the film, about the creator of the atomic bomb, Oppenheimer.
Lastly, he asserted his pride in being an Irishman, standing on the global platform, mirroring past glorious moments for Irish cinema – like when Daniel Day-Lewis and Brenda Fricker were awarded for their roles in My Left Foot, and the Academy wished James Martin a happy birthday in 2023.
This summarises a series of current issues. The government finds itself in a precarious position as the clear rejection of referendums on social care and family causes concern about increased voter unpredictability, particularly with upcoming elections. Meanwhile, Dean Sullivan, a former HSE chief who pocketed a hefty €400,000 exit package, has secured a new role in Northern Ireland’s health service, as confirmed in late February.
Secondary school students can look forward to learning empathy as part of their revamped transition year. This will cover understanding and practising empathy in real-life and online scenarios.
An intriguing development was the retraction of a Mother’s Day photograph of the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, with her children. This picture was withdrawn by several news and picture agencies on Sunday night amidst claims of it being altered.
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Davy Russell’s emotional exit on Fright Night at Dancing With The Stars semi-finals also stirred the heartstrings of many, leaving only four contenders for the finals next week.
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As Ireland reflects on their Six Nations performance, England’s outstanding play proves to be a bitter pill for them to swallow. The inaugural match at Stade Vélodrome, which feels like it transpired more than a mere five weeks ago, suggested that the stars had aligned for this Irish squad.
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