Jessie Buckley, Éanna Hardwicke and Christy celebrated at 2026 IFTA Awards

Jessie Buckley, Éanna Hardwicke, and Cork-based film Christy were among the winners at this year's IFTA Awards at the Dublin Convention Centre.

Buckley won Lead Actress for her role as Agnes Shakespeare in Hamnet. The Kerry native heads into next month's Academy Awards as one of the favourites in the Best Actress category. Her co-star Paul Mescal won the IFTA award for Supporting Actor, while Hamnet also won International Film and Script (Film).

"It’s really such an honour to come home and share this with you and mostly because growing up in Ireland the very nature of storytelling was a way of life," said Buckley.

Hardwicke won Lead Actor for his portrayal of Roy Keane in Saipan. The award was accepted on his behalf by his co-star Steve Coogan, who himself was nominated in the same category for his role on the opposing side of the infamous feud as  Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

Steve Coogan pictured at the IFTA Awards 2026 at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.
Picture: Brian McEvoy

Christy took home a number of awards. As well as being crowned Best Film, Brendan Canty won Director (Film), while Allyn Quigley and Amy Rowan won awards for Editing and Casting.

Best supporting Actress went to Kerry Condon, for her role as Kate McKenna in F1

A number of Irish TV shows were also celebrated. Anthony Boyle was named best Lead Actor in a Drama for House of Guinness, while another Belfast native, Lola Petticrew, won Lead Actress in a Drama for Trespasses - which also won Script (Drama).

Belfast-based police show Blue Lights won Best Drama, while Rachel Carey won Director (Drama) for Obituary.

Elsewhere, up-and-coming and veteran actors earned accolades. Louisa Harland, who recently enjoyed a leading role in The Walsh Sisters, was named IFTA rising Star.

Ciarán Hinds received the Irish Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

"It’s been a long old haul in this industry, or art, or whatever you want to call it," the 73-year-old said. "I’ve been remarkably lucky to work with so many creative, talented people, gracious and open-minded people, both here and further afield, on camera and off."

The IFTA ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ One on Saturday, February 21, at 10.50pm.