RTS Republic of Ireland Awards

Outgoing TG4 Director General (Ard-Stiúrthóir) Alan Esslemont was presented with the ­Outstanding Contribution award at the RTS Republic of Ireland Gradaim/Awards.

Scotland-born Esslemont left the Irish-language channel in April, having served nearly nine years in the top role. Paying tribute, RTS Ireland Chair Agnes Cogan said: “Alan’s contribution to the Irish and international television scene has been extraordinary in its scope, ambition and achievement.

“TG4, under his stewardship, is undeniably a major player in media and film, constantly expanding and innovating.”

The National Film School at IADT dominated the RTS Republic of Ireland Student Awards in late February on the iconic The Late Late Show stage at RTÉ in Dublin.

With Love from Aidan won four awards for the National Film School: Best Drama, and Craft Awards in Camerawork, Editing and Production Design. The National Film School also took home the Factual – Short-form prize for Simone James Documentary, and the Craft Awards for Sound (The Lesser Part) and Writing (How to Skin a Cheetah).

It also won all four Craft Skills awards: Camera, Fiachra Gallagher Lawson for Bestial Ones; Editing, Meghan O’Shaughnessy for They Killed Us for Existing; and Sound, Rory Sweeney, and Writing, Conor Bradley, for Sons of Róisín.

The Technological University Dublin won the Entertainment and Comedy Drama category.

“Despite the difficulties of the past few years, and the restrictions of the Covid lockdown, once again the students have astonished us with the originality, resourcefulness, wit and verve of their work,” said RTS Republic of Ireland Chair Agnes Cogan.

Belfast actor James Martin was awarded the Outstanding Newcomer prize at the RTS Republic of Ireland Awards (Gradaim RTS) in late March. Martin starred in the Oscar-winning short film An Irish Goodbye in which he played the bereaved brother Lorcan.

Gogglebox Ireland, shown on Virgin Media Television, was named the Factual Entertainment winner for the second year running.

The Drama prize went to another Virgin Media show (a co-commission with ITV), Redemption, a crime series set in Dublin starring Paula Malcomson.

Accepting the award on behalf of Element Pictures Producer Emma Norton described what a “total joy” it was to work with so many extraordinarily talented people, including Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal as “our perfect Marianne & Connell”.

Dara will receive the BAI Outstanding Contribution Award and nine other award winners will be revealed in a programme to be broadcast at 11pm on Virgin Media One on Tuesday March 30th, presented by Muireann O’Connell.

27 other nominees were announced today in nine categories from the 126 entries received, including RTÉ's Normal People, Virgin Media Television's News coverage - COVID News Special - Opening Up The Country, TG4's Is Olc an Ghaoth and Sky Sports’ Coverage of the GAA Championships.