The cream of Irish screen talent are gearing up to fly the green flag at the 95th Academy Awards on Sunday.

With an unprecedented 14 nominations for Irish entries, this is a historic year for this country’s nominees as they prepare to rub shoulders with Hollywood’s biggest stars.

The Banshees of Inisherin alone has nine nominations, with nods for four of its stars – Colin Farrell, Barry Keoghan, Brendan Gleeson and Kerry Condon.

It has become the most-nominated Irish movie ever, with director Martin McDonagh saying he “wanted to capture the beauty of Ireland in the film and lean into that”.

“The story is dark enough anyway, but we wanted the visuals and the locations to be as cinematic as possible,” he said.

Kildare’s Paul Mescal is hoping for the Best Actor award for Aftersun. His mother, Dearbhla, will accompany him down the Oscars red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday. Mescall said it was “all a bit overwhelming” as it was so unexpected.

Also flying the flag this weekend will be the makers of An Irish Goodbye, which is up for Best Short Film, having already won a Bafta last month.

Co-producer Pearce Cullen said he was “absolutely buzzing”.

“The journey this film has been on over the last two years has just been remarkable,” he told the Irish Independent. “I don’t think anyone could have anticipated the success it’s had – but we’re here and we’re on the way.

“At this point, it’s already been a win for everyone involved in it. We’ve gained so much from it, and it’s been just an amazing experience – so anything after this is a bonus.”

One of the youngest actors flying into Los Angeles this weekend is the star of An Cailín Ciúin, Catherine Clinch (13), who had the perfect excuse for missing a few days of school. ​

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I’m nervous as well, but I’m just really happy and grateful that I’m getting to go over.

“It’s been amazing – the biggest thing I’ve experienced in my life. I enjoyed the filming process so much, and I’ve met so many amazing people along the way.”

She will be joined in Hollywood by her elder sister Anna (17), who she credits as being “such a help and so supportive through this whole time”.

Catherine is also looking forward to getting to LA and seeing her dress for the first time – it is a blue creation by Galway designer Caterina Coyne.

Travelling with her are her proud parents, mum Méav Ni Mhaolchatha, a musician who was once in Celtic Woman, and dad Tom.

They could “never have dreamed this”, said the 13 year old – and her mother agreed.

Méav said: “It doesn’t feel real in some ways. I suppose it’s just about taking each step as it comes and enjoying the view from the roller-coaster, as they say.”

The husband-and-wife team behind An Cailín Ciúin, writer-director Colm Bairéad and producer Cleona Ní Chrualaoí, have been nominated for Best International Feature.

The couple have left their two children, Rían (4) and six-year-old Diolun with family for the week and said they are still pinching themselves over the success of the film.

Rían featured in the Irish-language movie, playing Cáit’s younger brother.

“He’s the little infant who’s crying in the background,” Colm joked.

“This has been an amazing adventure to be on as a married couple. Every step of this journey we’ve taken together – from the very beginning of the film to now – and here we are, about to walk on to the red carpet of the Oscars. It’s been incredible, something we’ll never forget.”

Producer Ní Chrualaoí said it was “amazing” that the Oscars were taking place in the middle of Seachtain na Gaeilge, and added that it was also the first time an Irish-language feature film was nominated at the event.

“We’re really proud. We talk about it ourselves, that it’s amazing the film is helping in some small way to preserve the language and raise awareness of it, and make it part of our mainstream culture,” she said.

“To have people like Paul Mescal and Brendan Gleeson speaking it on the red carpet, it just elevates the language,” she said.

“When Irish people see an Irish-language film being embraced so lovingly around the world, there’s a real sense of national pride – a sense that this is us, this is our language. It’s part of us.”

Arts Minister Catherine Martin, who has also flown to Los Angeles for the awards ceremony, said it was “incredible” to have 14 nominations and shows how the country is punching above its weight in the screen sector.

She will be using the trip to Hollywood to meet representatives from some of the biggest Hollywood studios as she helps promote Ireland as a filming destination.

“This is so important for our industry. I’m travelling over to connect with and build on that relationship with LA, the capital of the entertainment world,” she said.

“I’ll be meeting with people from Disney, Sony and Marvel, reminding them of the Government’s absolute commitment to the screen industry here in Ireland.”