Kevin McGahern to Host 22nd annual IFTA Awards Ceremony on February 14th, 2025

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) has announced that popular comedian, actor and presenter Kevin McGahern is to host the 22nd annual IFTA Awards Ceremony, which will take place on Friday, February 14th at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre.

As McGahern takes front and centre stage as IFTA Host this year, he brings with him his funny, witty and charming personality to lead the proceedings for this prestigious and glamorous occasion. As a talented Actor, writer and popular comedian, Kevin will be at home amongst this creative community of actors, filmmakers and craftspeople, renowned for its Irish camaraderie.   

The IFTA Awards Ceremony will welcome Irish and International Guests from all around the world for a great home gathering of industry peers, to recognise achievements both in front and behind the camera, and to celebrate with iconic Irish actor Colm Meaney, as he receives his IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award at the Ceremony. 

The cream of the Irish film community will be in attendance to celebrate the enormous success of our home talents.  Nominees in the running for Irish Academy Awards this year include Saoirse Ronan, Cillian Murphy, Nicola Coughlan, Liam Cunningham, Ruth Negga, Sharon Horgan, Kneecap, Eva Birthistle, Eve Hewson, Michael Fassbender, Andrew Scott, Colin Farrell, Jessie Buckley, Victoria Smurfit, Alisha Weir, Clinton Liberty, Aidan Turner, Peter Coonan, Anthony Boyle, Simone Kirby, Ciarán Hinds, Paul Mescal, Elaine Cassidy, Lola Petticrew, Roisin Gallagher, Siobhán Cullen, Jessica Reynolds, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Clare Dunne, Hazel Doupe, Barry Keoghan, Eileen Walsh, Baz Ashmawy, Carolyn Bracken, Brían F. O'Byrne, Steve Wall, Zara Devlin, Fionnuala Flaherty, Michael Smiley, Chris Walley, David Wilmot and Fiona Shaw, among others.

Speaking about his new Hosting role McGahern said:

“It’s a huge honour to be asked to host the IFTAs this year.  It's been another amazing year for Irish Film and Drama, both here and around the globe and I look forward to celebrating those achievements on the night and to having some fun too - what incredible talent and skill that this small island is capable of.”

ABOUT KEVIN MCGAHERN

Originally from Cavan, McGahern began his career in 2009, and was host of RTE’s Republic of Telly for 10 seasons. A talented writer and actor Kevin has starred in projects including Redemption of a Rogue, Smother, Hardy Bucks, Video Nasty, The Bright Side, Northern Lights, Finding Joy, Bridget & Eamon, Nowhere Fast, The Dry and The Last Duel.  He was nominated for IFTA’s TV Rising Star Award in 2016.

In 2021, he began hosting Clear History with Jason Byrne and Joanne McNally. He has hosted TV documentaries including Kevin McGahern’s Fast & Furious and Kevin McGahern’s America, as well as the RTE series Kevin Paints and Cheap European Homes. In 2023, he was a contestant on RTE’s Dancing With The Stars.

As a comedian, he has performed on major stages including the Edinburgh Fringe, Vodafone Comedy Festival, Body and Soul, Electric Picnic, and Forbidden Fruit. He is also co-host of popular podcast The Lovely Show with fellow comedian Justine Stafford.

The 2025 IFTA Awards Ceremony takes place on Friday, February 14th at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre. A full list of IFTA Guest Presenters & international guests will be announced in February for the Award Show. The Irish Academy Awards are funded by Screen Ireland and Coimisiún na Meán.