Saoirse’s first BAFTAs ‘kind of surreal’

IRELAND’S golden girl Saoirse Ronan failed to win the BAFTA for Best Actress in London last night, but was perhaps consoled with the IFTA she took home just 24 hours earlier in her home town.

Heavy rain fell as international stars gathered for the glitzy ceremony in Covent Garden, one night after the Irish film industry celebrated its talent in Dublin’s Burlington hotel.

Although she did not win the BAFTA, Ms Ronan, nominated for leading actress for her role in Peter Jackson’s fantasy movie, The Lovely Bones, held her own on the red carpet.