It was a big night for Irish at the Bafta TV Awards as Derry Girls and Bad Sisters took home two awards each.
Siobhán McSweeney won for ‘Female Performance in a Comedy Programme’ for her role as sarcastic and deadpan Sister Michael in Derry Girls, which came to an end this time last year.
Despite being given limited time, she caused plenty of laughter in her acceptance speech as she said: “So I’ve been warned not to do a political statement, so as my mother laid dying in Cork, one of the very last things she said to me was would I not consider retraining as a teacher.
“If she could see me now, getting a Bafta for playing a teacher. Joke’s on you.”
She also thanked the people of Derry for “taking me into your hearts and living rooms.”
Derry Girls creator Lisa McGee picked up an award for ‘Best Scripted Comedy’ and thanked Channel 4, asking them to “never change”, as well as “our first home, Derry.”
Brand new Irish drama Bad Sisters also took home two awards at the ceremony that took place in London last night.
Sharon Horgan collected the award for ‘Best Drama Series’, for which she is a co-creator, writer and executive producer.
During her acceptance speech, Horgan said that the show was a “really difficult shoot” but praised the “brilliant” cast, which included Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene and Eve Hewson.
Anne-Marie Duff, whose father hails from County Meath and whose mother was from Donegal, took home the award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ and said she was “completely shocked”.
Anne-Marie Duff, whose mother is from Donegal, accepting her Bafta TV Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’ for Irish drama Bad Sisters
She thanked the cast and production team and said that she had a message for people at home: “If someone is in their life who is bullying them who is telling them that who they are is wrong, that what they are isn’t enough . . . I am telling you now you are everything.”
