BAFTAs: Barry Keoghan, Kerry Condon and more Irish talent win big

Black comedy The Banshees of Inisherin stars Kerry Condon, Barry Keoghan, and director Martin McDonagh have all taken home awards from tonight's Baftas.

Unfortunately, there was less success in the Lead Actor category, where there were three Irish men nominated. Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin), Daryl McCormack (Good Luck to You, Leo Grande) and Paul Mescal (Aftersun) all missed out to Austin Butler for his portrayal of Elvis in the biopic of the same name.

Tipperary native Kerry Condon said that winning the Best Supporting Actress award for her role in Banshees was “really surreal”.

Speaking about how she was feeling from the Bafta winner’s room, the 40-year-old actress said: “Oh my God, the whole thing was just this blackout weird moment.

“All I remember is looking and seeing all the boys looking at me like, ‘get up’. It was just it was really surreal.”

While she was mid-speech in the winner’s room, the film’s director Martin McDonagh won the award for Best Original Screenplay.

Reflecting on why she felt her role of Siobhan resonated with so many, she said: “I hope it’s because she was able to be kind to somebody who annoyed her and I think it’s because she was evolved.

“And I think maybe because she showed a lot of inner strength and a lot of sadness that people experience, and also that a lot of her life is taking care of her brother or taking care of somebody else.

“A lot of women sacrifice their lives for their children or for their husbands, or whoever.”

She made sure to thank her horses and dogs in her speech, and her family back home in Ireland.

We're here for Kerry Condon thanking her animals ❤️ #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/guDK3AV4Y6

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 19, 2023

Meanwhile, Barry Keoghan also showed his Irish pride during his Best Supporting Actor speech.

The 30-year-old said he feels the Bafta award success for The Banshees Of Inisherin will encourage artists in Ireland to “send the scripts in and go for what they want to do”.

“It encourages the arts at home and we are an island of storytelling and great actors and poets and writers.

He plans to celebrate his win with his son by ordering room service after the ceremony and that he was going to keep the award under a picture of his mother.

He also dedicated the award to children from the area he comes from.

Barry Keoghan thanks Ireland for his BAFTA ❤️🍀 #EEBAFTAs pic.twitter.com/SsDqX5EGkv

— BAFTA (@BAFTA) February 19, 2023

Sir Patrick Stewart presented outstanding British film to The Banshees of Inisherin.

Director and writer Martin McDonagh said: “I know every Irish person in the cast and crew are going ‘best what?'”

He also thanked the stand-in donkey, who he said is British and never made it on screen because she was “too tubby”, as well as thanking the cast and crew. Jenny the Donkey has become a well-known name since Colin Farrell name checked her in his Golden Globes speech for Best Actor.

Lastly, An Irish Goodbye also took home the award for Best Short Film.

Catherine Martin made sure to offer her congratulations to the Irish talent scooping prizes. The Minister for Culture tweeted:

"A proud day for the Irish. Your work is resonating with so many people around the globe, urging them to stand up and take note of the outstanding film-making talent in Ireland. Huge congratulations, very well deserved."

A proud day for the Irish at #BAFTAs2023

Your work is resonating with so many people around the globe, urging them to stand up and take note of the outstanding film-making talent in Ireland.

Huge congratulations, very well deserved 👏#BAFTA2023 #BAFTAs pic.twitter.com/AUZFfNj1g2

— Catherine Martin TD (@cathmartingreen) February 19, 2023

Elsewhere, Cate Blanchett was awarded Best Actress for her role in Tár, beating out fellow frontrunner Michelle Yeoh of Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. WWII epic All Quiet on the Western Front won the most gongs of the night, with seven.

Some viewers were critical of the lack of diversity among the winners. All of the acting category honours went to white stars, despite landmark awards for Everything, Everywhere, All At Once and Black talent like Danielle Deadwyler and Angela Bassett at every other major awards show this season.

On a lighter note, check out Paul Mescal ag caint as Gaeilge below - which has gone down a treat on Irish Twitter, as you can imagine.

Paul Mescal le togha na Gaeilge ag caint le @CaitlinNicAoidh

Béidh siad broduil as I Maigh Nuad ag breathnú ar seo@TG4TV
For every person that puts up with negativity regarding Gaeilge every day

Seeing so much Gaeilge at the BAFTAS is emotional.

💚pic.twitter.com/9b8J8tBOG5

— Cárthach Bán Breathnach (@cartyban) February 19, 2023