By Mairead Wilmot IF YOU ARE a betting man or, let’s be politically correct about this, a betting person, we may (or may not) have a money-making scheme for you. Carlow’s very own starlet, Saoirse Ronan, is being hotly tipped for an Oscar. Surely not meaning to put any undue pressure on a teenage girl not yet 16, Paddy Power is taking bets that Saoirse will win an Oscar for her role in The Lovely Bones. The 15-year-old actress is 11/8 to get the nod for her role as Susie Salmon in the 2009 film adaptation of the book, and just 8/1 to make Oscar history and become the youngest best actress Oscar winner ever. Sharon McHugh, spokesperson for Paddy Power, said: “Saoirse is getting rave reviews for her part in The Lovely Bones. There’s still a good few months left until the Oscars but already there’s a lot of chat surrounding her, which can only be a good sign!” The other main Irish hopeful for next year’s Academy Awards is Daniel Day Lewis (who isn’t actually Irish). Paddy Power is quoting 11/10 that he’ll receive a nomination for his role alongside Penelope Cruz in Nine and 6/1 that he’ll bag the second Oscar of his career.