TG4

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.

For more than two years, the scene here in Ireland has been dark and gloomy. The pandemic has cast its pall across the landscape, particularly over the fields of entertainment – theatre, film, TV and video.

This warning was given by TG4 Ard-Stiúrthóir (Director- General) Alan Esslemont, who was in conversation with RTS Republic of Ireland Chair Agnes Cogan at an event in early November.

TG4, Ireland’s Irish-language channel, celebrated its 25th birthday at the end of October.

Esslemont, who has been Director-General since 2016, said: ‘Despite the significant number of major global media services and intense competition, we believe that TG4 is needed more now than ever.... We are a vital part of modern Ireland.’

The film was shot and produced by Godfrey Graham, who revealed at the RoI event that, at the time, Pierre had been a Swedish researcher working at RTÉ Television. She was fascinated with the Irish writer and approached Graham, who took on the challenge of producing the tribute to Behan.

A Jar with Brendan Behan features Níall Tóibín as Behan, who died in 1964. Tóibín also appeared in a stage adaptation of Behan’s Borstal Boy on Broadway, as well as acting in the movies Ryan’s Daughter and Veronica Guerin.