Irish actor Peter McDonald upstaged two of the biggest British screen stars at the second annual Irish Film and Television academy awards ceremony in Belfast last night. McDonald won Best Actor beating Scottish stars Ewan McGregor and Robert Carlyle. McGregor had been nominated for his performance as James Joyce in the film 'Nora', McDonald won for his performance in the Irish film Saltwalter.
Northern Ireland-born actress Susan Lynch won Best Actress for her role as Nora Barnacle in 'Nora'. Best Film went to Alan Parker's film of Frank McCourt's book 'Angela's Ashes'. Writer/director Conor McPherson took the award for Best Screenplay for 'Saltwater'.
The biggest surprise of the night saw a cartoon character beating human competition to win the Best Television Personality award, when the Irish language station TG4's character Hiudai beat comedian Patrick Kielty and Northern Ireland chatshow host Gerry Kelly in the viewers' vote.
BBC Television's 'Eureka Street' won the Best Drama award, while Tina Kellegher won Best Leading Performance in a drama for her role in 'Ballykissangel'.
