'My greatest cheerleader'... Sharon Horgan dedicates IFTA win to her late father

Bellewstown writer, producer and actor Sharon Horgan dedicated her Irish Film and Television Award (IFTA) to her late father, John, who died in December 2023.

The ‘Bad Sisters’ creator who was born in London before moving to Meath won the Best Drama Script for the show which also stars Sarah Green and Eva Birthistle.

The show picked up another two awards, for Dearbhla Walsh (Best Director) and for Coimisiún Na Meán Best Drama.

“I’d like to dedicate this to my dad, John Horgan, who came along to the IFTAs twice with me and my mum, and probably spoke to a bunch of you. He was a huge fan of everything I did, and my greatest cheerleader. He was always very, very inspired and taken with just the skill that everyone had. That's all I have to say, I just want to thanks my dad, I miss him a lot, and I'm so glad that my mum is here with me tonight.”

Belfast rap trio, Kneecap, and Troubles series ‘Say Nothing’ were among the big winners at the IFTAs ceremony on Friday night.

Saoirse Ronan and Cillian Murphy won for leading actor and actress in a film for their roles in ‘The Outrun’ and in ‘Small Things Like These’ respectively.

Ronan also won the best supporting actress award for ‘Blitz’, and Mullagh native Brian F O’Byrne took best supporting actor for his role in ‘Conclave’.

Kneecap’s self-titled Irish language film won four awards and ‘Say Nothing’ also won four for its starring actors. ‘Small Things Like These’ won best film and best script.

Friday was a very special day for Rich Peppiatt, director of the Kneecap film, celebrated winning best director two hours after becoming an Irish citizen.

“Today I went from bring a subject to a citizen,” he said, as he held up a pin of the Irish flag, wearing a knitted balaclava on his shoulder.

Anthony Boyle, who was in the historical drama Say Nothing and blockbuster ‘Masters Of The Air’, won the rising star award, while Tom Vaughan-Lawlor won best supporting actor for a drama series.

Lola Petticrew won best lead actress in a drama for her role as Dolours Price in Say Nothing.

Speaking on the red carpet before the ceremony at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Friday, ‘Ripley’ star Andrew Scott said: “I feel really, really proud of us.

“Particularly because I’m such an admirer of all the people – Saoirse (Ronan) and Cillian (Murphy) and Colin (Farrell) and Paul (Mescal), obviously, and Jessie (Buckley) and Ruth (Negga) and Alison (Oliver) and just so many people, Jamie (Dornan), it’s incredible. I feel like it’s great to just be part of that gang, I hope I just get to work with them a little bit more.”

Scott, who is returning to New York in the coming weeks to perform his hit West End play ‘Vanya’, joked the actors should all come together for a “big Irish superhero movie”.

Actor Colm Meaney, known for playing Miles O’Brien in the ‘Star Trek’ franchise and several role in Roddy Doyle films, received the lifetime achievement award for his “extraordinary contributions to cinema and television”.

Speaking ahead of the awards, he said it was an honour to be recognised by his peers.

“It’s a lovely award, to be here in my hometown, it’s an award that comes from my peers so it’s really special.”