Nora Twomey: Cork animator on her new Netflix film, My Father's Dragon 

She left school early but a return to education at Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa put the East Cork woman on the path to a career that includes several Oscar nominations, writes Esther McCarthy

Cork animator Nora Twomey with stars Jacob Tremblay  and Gaten Matarazzo at the premiere of My Father's Dragon in London. (Picture: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty)

She left school early and took on factory work - but a return to education in her 20s helped fire up Nora Twomey’s creative imagination. It was, the East Cork-born animator recalls now, a massive turning point in her life.

Taking on the foundation course in a well-known Cork college made her realise that a world of other career paths were possible. The Oscar-nominated filmmaker and co-founder of top animation studio Cartoon Saloon still vividly remembers that time.