Irish writers for stage, screen and radio were recognised for their work at the 19^th Writers’ Guild of Ireland (WGI) Zebbie Awards at Light House Cinema Dublin last night (Thursday, September 3^rd).

The Zebbie Awards celebrate the best of Irish writing in Theatre, Television Drama, Continuing Drama, Short Film, Feature Film, Radio & Audio Drama and Children’s & Young People’s Television. 

The awards ceremony was hosted by writer, actor and comedian Tara Flynn.

Sheena Lambert won the Best Feature Film script category for Báite, which she adapted from her own novel, The Lake, with the Zebbie presented to her by script editor Aideen McCarthy. Richie Conroy for Fran the Man and brothers Colin and Darren Thornton for Four Mothers were the other finalists in the category.

Ailbhe Keogan, received the Best TV Drama script award from Dee Roycroft for the final episode of Trespasses, her adaptation of the Louise Kennedy novel of the same name. Jo Spain for the opening episode of Mix Tape and Mary Fox and Marty Thornton for Hidden Assets, episode 1 season 3, were also nominated. 

Mary Kate O’Flanagan presented the Zebbie for Best Theatre script to John Morton for Denouement, with Barbara Bergin for Dublin Gothic and Lee Coffey for Jigsaw also nominated.

Joy Nesbitt won Best Short Film Script for The Knife; Rodney Lee received the Best Children’s & Young People’s TV Script Zebbie for The Unreal, season 2, episode 1; the Best Radio & Audio Drama Script award went to Peter Dunne for Spooky FM: Jingle Hells; And Senta Rich received the Best Continuing Drama Script Zebbie for Fair City, season 36 episode 25. 

The Writers’ Guild also presented two new Zebbie Awards this year, selected by industry juries. The Best Debut script award went to Ciara Ní É for Claonadh (An Inclination) and the Best Irish Language script award went to Sarah Gordon and Damian McCann for their feature film Aontas, which has also recently been selected by the Irish Film & Television Academy as Ireland’s Oscars entry in the International Feature Film category.  

The WGI represents Irish writers working across film, television, theatre, radio, animation and games. It advocates for fair pay, stronger rights, greater creative control and proper recognition of the essential contribution of writers as the creative foundation of every production.

As the Irish screen industry continues to grow, the WGI maintains that writers are still not getting the fair contracts, fair payment and public recognition they deserve.

The awards are named in honour of O.Z. ‘Zebby’ Whitehead, a Broadway and Hollywood actor who was a great supporter of theatre and writing in Ireland after he moved to Dublin in 1963.

The Zebbies are grateful for the support of Screen Ireland and the Irish Copyright Licensing Agency. 

Jennifer Davidson, Chair of the Writers’ Guild of Ireland, said:

“It is a great pleasure to once again recognise the exceptional talent of Irish writers for stage, screen and radio. The Zebbie Awards give us a welcome moment to honour the imagination, skill and dedication of our writing community. Every winning work began with a writer shaping an idea into a story capable of moving and entertaining an audience. We congratulate this year’s winners and nominees on their remarkable achievements. Their work demonstrates why writers deserve meaningful recognition, strong creative protections and equitable rewards as our cultural and creative industries continue to grow.”

 Pics by Beta Bajgart

The 2026 Zebbie Awards Winners are:

Best Short Film Script

The Knife – Joy Nesbitt

Best Children’s & Young People’s TV Script

The Unreal, S2 Ep1 – Rodney Lee

Best Radio & Audio Drama Script

Spooky FM: Jingle Hells – Peter Dunne

Best Continuing Drama Script

Fair City, S36 Ep25 – Senta Rich

Best Theatre Script

Denouement – John Morton

Best TV Drama Script

Trespasses, Ep4 – Ailbhe Keogan

Best Feature Film Script

Báite – Sheena Lambert

Best Debut Script

Claonadh (An Inclination) – Ciara Ní É  

Best Irish Language Script

Aontas – Sarah Gordon & Damian McCann