Irish language rap group Kneecap and Derry Girls’ actress Nicola Coughlan will be among the stars set to attend the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA) Awards in Dublin this weekend.
The awards ceremony takes place at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre on Friday, with several NI productions, including Say Nothing and Blue Lights, receiving nominations.
Kneecap’s JJ Ó Dochartaigh, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh and Naoise Ó Cairealláin, who captivated audiences with their movie, will be in attendance.
The Belfast-set movie led the film categories, picking up 17 nominations including in the Best Film, Acting, and Directing categories
Limited series Say Nothing secured 10 nominations in the television drama categories.
The nine-part series, based on the book of the same name by Patrick Radden Keefe, aired in late 2024.
Nicola Coughlan, who rose to fame playing Clare Devlin in Derry Girls, will be at the awards after picking a nomination in the Lead Actress category for her role in Netflix hit drama Bridgerton.
Police drama Blue Lights, which is filmed in Belfast, also picked up two nominations, including for Best Drama.
Nicola Coughlan
Cillian Murphy, nominated for Small Things Like These will be in attendance, as well as Saoirse Ronan for The Outrun, Andrew Scott for Ripley, and Ruth Negga for Presumed Innocent.
The Awards will also recognise achievements both in front and behind the camera, with Colm Meaney set to receive the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Snapper and The Commitments actor is expected to be surrounded by family, friends and industry peers when presented with the award.
Also up for Awards on the night are Eileen Walsh (Small Things Like These), Steve Wall (Oddity), Zara Devlin (Small Things Like These), Fionnuala Flaherty (Kneecap), Michael Smiley (Bad Sisters), Chris Walley (Bodkin), Simone Kirby (Kneecap) and Peter Coonan (King Frankie, Kathleen is Here).
Hollywood star Colin Farrell is also up for his portrayal of a Gotham City antihero in The Penguin.
While Jessie Buckley (Wicked Little Letters), Ciarán Hinds (The Dry), Paul Mescal (Gladiator II), Siobhán Cullen (The Dry, Bodkin), Carolyn Bracken (Oddity), Jessica Reynolds (Kneecap) and Bono’s daughter, Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters) are also up for awards on the night.
Saoirse Ronan in ‘The Outrun’
Other guests in attendance will include Jim Sheridan, renowned Irish filmmaker and previous Lifetime Achievement recipient, Barry Ward, IFTA-winning star of That They May Face The Rising Sun; as well as Pat Shortt and his daughter and fellow comedian, Faye Shortt.
NoraJane Noone, the star of Bring Them Down; Hilary Rose, star of The Young Offenders; RTÉ broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan and Yasmin Seky, who stars in Kin and is a current Dancing With The Stars contestant, will also be there on Friday.
TikTok star Eric Roberts will be chatting with the biggest stars on the Red Carpet ahead of the Ceremony, with interviews available to watch throughout the evening on IFTA’s Official TikTok Account, starting at 5pm.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast on RTE One this Saturday from 10.55pm.
The Irish Academy Awards are funded by Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán.
Its key sponsors and partners include RTE, Don Julio, IFTN, TikTok, Canon and Sculpted by Aimee.