Love/Hate cleans up - as the IFTAs bounce back from 2014 shambles

THE IFTAS HAPPENED last night.

You won’t have a chance to see the ceremony on TV until next Monday night – but the event went ahead, following a long red carpet preamble, in Dublin’s Mansion House.

The awards are being split into two this year. Last night it was the ‘film and drama’ ceremony. The other TV awards being presented in October.

RTÉ pulled out of showing the bash in 2015, after last year’s ceremony was branded “embarrassing” by viewers. TV3 announced back in March that it was coming on board as broadcast partner.

On the night – the Love/Hate cast, and alumni of the gangland drama, were the big winners, claiming the following:

• Best Drama in association with BAI: Love/Hate 5
• Best Script Drama: Stuart Carolan for Love/Hate
• Best Lead Actress Drama: Charlie Murphy for Love/Hate

Aiden Gillen, who formerly played a mob boss in the hit show, won Best Lead Actor in a Drama for ‘Charlie’.

You’ll find the full list of winners on the IFTA site – but here’s a quick round-up of some of the main victors in the film category:

• Best Film: Song of the Sea
• Best Director Film: Lenny Abrahamson for Frank
• Best Script Film: Terry McMahon for Patrick’s Day
• Irish Film Board Rising Star: Sarah Greene
• Best Lead Actor Film: Moe Dunford for Patrick’s Day
• Best Lead Actress Film: Deirdre O’Kane for Noble
• Best Supporting Actor Film: Domhnall Gleeson for Frank
• Best Supporting Actress Film: Sarah Greene

Veteran director Jim Sheridan (My Left Foot, The Boxer, In America, In the Name of the Father) also received the Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by Sean Bean.

The awards were presented by Caroline Morahan.

Read: 9 important things that happened on the IFTAs red carpet last night

Read: An Irish film about single people being turned into animals scooped a big prize last night