County Mayo ranked among Ireland’s Oscar hotspots in new study

Mayo has been named among Ireland’s “Oscar hotspots” in new research examining which counties have produced the most Academy Award nominees and winners.

The study by Virgin Media Ireland analysed Irish Oscar nominees and winners from 1928 to the present day across major categories including Best Actor, Best Director, Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects.

The findings place County Mayo seventh on the list, sharing the position with Cavan, Donegal, Tipperary, Waterford, Wicklow and Wexford.

One of Mayo’s most notable Oscar-recognised figures is playwright and screenwriter Bill Naughton, who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Alfie, which he adapted from his own successful stage play. The story’s popularity on stage helped it transition to the big screen, earning international recognition and an Oscar nomination.

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The research highlights the widespread contribution of Irish talent to the film industry, from actors and directors to screenwriters, producers and behind-the-scenes creatives.

According to the study, Dublin leads the rankings with a combined total of 53 Oscar nominations and wins.

Among those recognised from the capital is Brenda Fricker, who became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award when she took home Best Supporting Actress for My Left Foot in 1990.

The capital has also produced notable behind-the-scenes talent, including visual effects artist Richard Baneham, who won Oscars for his work on Avatar and Avatar: The Way of Water. More recently, Colin Farrell received a Best Actor nomination for The Banshees of Inisherin.

County Kildare ranked second with seven nominations and wins, while County Galway and County Cork tied for third place with five each.

Galway’s success is largely linked to filmmaker Martin McDonagh, whose film Six Shooter won Best Live Action Short in 2006, while Cork’s achievements include Cillian Murphy winning Best Actor for Oppenheimer in 2024.

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Carlow and Limerick share fourth place with four nominations and wins each, with Carlow’s tally largely due to actress Saoirse Ronan and her nominations for films such as Brooklyn and Lady Bird.

The study concludes that Irish talent continues to have a significant presence on Hollywood’s biggest stage, with creative figures from across the country contributing to the global film industry.