RTÉ thriller­-come­-family drama Smother, starring Dervla Kirwan, won the coveted Drama award. One of the stars of the Irish broadcaster’s gangster series Kin, Yasmin Seky, took the Newcomer prize. In total, RTÉ won seven of the 11 categories.

Finding Jack Charlton, Virgin Media’s moving film about the England World Cup win­ner and former Republic of Ireland manager, won the Sport category.

The Specialist Factual award went to Sky’s two­ part music and literary doc­umentary series Voices of Ireland, while Irish-­language broadcaster TG4’s Mo Shaol, Do Shaol won the Children’s Programme category.

TV presenters Blathnaid Treacy and Nuala Carey hosted the ceremony at the concert hall of Dublin’s RDS. It was produced by RTÉ and featured guest appearances by indie folk act Villagers and impressionist Oliver Callan in front of an audience of about 400. “Tonight’s winners are testament to an industry at the top of its game creatively,” said RTS Ireland Awards Chair Niall Cogley. “We were especially excited to finally gather together again... to pay tribute to the very best Irish TV performers producers and contributors.”

 

RTS Republic of Ireland Television Awards winners:

Drama: Smother, Treasure Entertainment/BBC Studios for RTÉ

Entertainment: Ireland’s Fittest Family, Animo TV/Kite Entertainment for RTÉ

Factual Entertainment: Gogglebox Ireland, Kite Entertainment for Virgin Media Television

Factual: The Killing of Fr Niall Molloy, Flawless Films for RTÉ

Factual Single: Tomorrow Is Saturday, GMarsh TV Productions for RTÉ

Specialist Factual: Voices of Ireland, Red Shoe for Sky

News and Current Affairs: RTÉ Investigates – Covid 19: The Third Wave, RTÉ

Sport: Finding Jack Charlton, Noah Media Group/Virgin Media/BBC for Virgin Media Television

Animation: Dagda’s Harp, Cardel Entertainment for RTÉ

Children’s: Mo Shaol, Do Shaol, Macalla Teo for TG4

Newcomer: Yasmin Seky