Ciaran Hinds has won this year's Irish Film and Television Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role - for his role in Romeat a ceremony last night at Dublin's RDS.
He said: "I would like to thank the director for having the nerve to cast me."
The Best Actress in a Lead Role - TV went to Ger Ryan for Stardust, which depicted the horrific tragedy disco tragedy which claimed the lives of dozens of young people in north Dublin.
The Best Actress in a Lead Role - TV went to Ger Ryan for Stardust, which depicted the horrific tragedy disco tragedy which claimed the lives of dozens of young people in north Dublin.
She said: "The families of the Stardustvictims would like an independent inquiry they have the new evidence and none of us know why there is a delay. "In a few days it will be 26 years since the tragedy."
Another actress in Stardust, Ruth Bradley, walked away with a 39cm IFTA award for her supporting role in the emotive drama
Gary Lydon from The Clinicscooped the Best Actor in a Supporting Role - TV. The Wind That Shakes the Barleylived up to bookmakers expectations when it took the Best Irish Film accolade.
Mr Loach said: "It has been an extraordinary experience working on this film." He added: "It was a great experience to recreate those days when the British were finally driven from Ireland."
Mr Loach said he was often asked what it was like to be a British director working on such a film. He said: "The same ruling class that oppressed Ireland also oppressed the people back home."
The Breakthrough Award went to Niall Heery for Small Engine Repair. Television comedy Naked Camerawon the Best Entertainment award.
Eva Birthistle took the Best Actress in a Lead Role award for the film Middleton, and Cillian Murphy's cross-dressing role in Breakfast on Plutowon him the Best Actor award. Best Director went to Neil Jordan, and the Wind That Shakes the Barleyclaimed the Best Film accolade.
The Best International Actor award went to Leonardo DiCaprio in The Departed.
The hard-fought Personality of the Year Award went to veteran television sports host Bill O'Herlihy. Little Miss Sunshinetook the Best International Film and Neil Jordan and Pat McCabe won the Best Script award for Breakfast on Pluto.
The team behind the Stardustprogramme made another appeal for an inquiry as it turned out to be a surprise winner in the Best Single Drama/Drama Serial. In yet another category the programme cleaned up, with Stephen O'Connell given the gold statuette for Best Editing.
RTE's Prime Time Investigates: 'Sex Trade' was awarded the honour in the Best Current Affairs/News category, with Best Drama Series going to The Clinic.
But one familiar face was missing after former 007 Pierce Brosnan could not make his flight to attend due to a family member falling ill.