THE OSCAR NOMINATIONS were announced yesterday and there was great cause for elation here in Ireland with both Ruth Negga and Consolata Boyle landing nods for Best Actress and Best Costume Design, respectively.

But Ireland is also represented in Best Animated Feature. Well, kind of.

Donegal teenager Art Parkinson, who is best known for his role as Rickon Stark in Game of Thrones, voices the titular character in Kubo and the Two Strings, which was nominated for two Oscars yesterday.

The 15-year-old, who hails from Moville, found out about the film’s nomination when his Mam popped into his school in Buncrana to break the news to him.

Art told BBC Foyle:

Mum came in yesterday and she was almost crying. I wouldn’t be doing it without her, they’re all very proud. I’m very excited about it to be honest. It’s a great achievement, everybody who is involved in film making wants the recognition of what they put into it.

Kubo and Two Two Strings was one of the most acclaimed animated films of last year — it has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also features the vocal stylings of Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, and Rooney Mara.

In their review, The Hollywood Reporter noted that Kubo was “affectingly voiced” by Parkinson. His performance also garnered him a prestigious Annie nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production.

As for whether Parkinson will be attending the Oscars? He’s not quite sure yet, telling BBC Foyle that it will depend on if he can juggle it with his schoolwork.

It kind of depends on the work I’m doing, I’m going over for the Annies   next week but as of the Oscars I’m not too sure yet.

Plus he’ll have to make sure he can fulfill his obligations as a Seachtain na Gaeilge ambassador.

You can take the boy out of Donegal…

G’wan Art!

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