19 August 2026
By Valerie Ryan
Valerie@TheCork.ie
- Winners announced on September 3rd at Light House Cinema, Dublin
- Tara Flynn returns to host this year’s ceremony
Two writers from or based in Cork are finalists in the 19th Writers’ Guild of Ireland (WGI) Zebbie Awards which celebrate Irish writing for stage, screen and audio.
Cork-based Peadar Cox is a finalist in the Best Continuing Drama Script category for Ros na Rún, Season 30 Episode 27 and Lisa O’Donovan, who is from Cork but based in Co Kildare, is a finalist in the Best Children & Young People’s TV category for Maddie & Triggs, Episode 148 Ice Cream.
The awards ceremony, which will be presented by Tara Flynn, will take place at the Light House Cinema in Dublin on Thursday, September 3rd.
Peadar Cox has been writing for Ros na Rún for 20 years, having acted in the series as villain Daniel McLoughlin for 10 years, for which he received an IFTA nomination for Best Actor in a TV Drama. Fíona Ní Dhuibhir for Ros na Rún, Season 29 Episode 81, and Senta Rich for Fair City, Season 36 Episode 25, are the other finalists in the category.
Lisa O’Donovan is a visually impaired writer whose work is primarily for children and has a special emphasis on fun and adventure. She is one of four writers who were commissioned by Turnip & Duck for their award-winning children’s animation Maddie & Triggs.
She is joined in the Best Children & Young People’s TV category by Nadine Lattimore for Maddie & Triggs, Episode 149 Dust Bunnies and Rodney Lee for The Unreal, Season 2 Episode 1.
The WGI says the Zebbie Awards are an important opportunity to shine a spotlight on the writers behind Ireland’s success in film, television, theatre, radio and audio drama, and to remind the industry that no production can exist without a script.
The exceptionally high standard of Irish writing is reflected throughout this year’s nominations, with other nominees including Ailbhe Keogan in the Best TV Drama Script category for Trespasses, Episode 4. She is shortlisted alongside Mary Fox and Marty Thornton for Hidden Assets, Series 3 Episode 1, and Jo Spain for Mix Tape, Episode 1. *See below for full list of nominees.
Lisa-ODonovan-is-a-finalist-in-the-Best-Children-Young-Peoples-TV-category-of-the-WGI-Zebbie-Awards
Peadar-Cox-is-a-finalist-in-the-Best-Continuing-Drama-Script-category-of-the-WGI-Zebbie-Awards
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. Only WGI members can read the nominated scripts and vote in the member-voted categories.
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 WGI, which campaigns for rights, remuneration, more control of work and better recognition for its members, represents Irish writers for film, television, theatre, radio, animation and games. It campaigns to ensure writers are recognised as the creative force without which there is no production.
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:
“Once again, we’re delighted to celebrate the extraordinary craft and talent of Irish writers through the Zebbie Awards. This year’s nominations show the range and quality of writing being created by our members across stage, screen and audio.
“At a time when the Irish screen industry is experiencing record-breaking growth, it is more important than ever that writers are properly recognised and fairly paid for the work that makes that success possible. No film, television series, play, audio drama or children’s programme can exist without the script at its heart.
“The Zebbies are an important opportunity to shine a spotlight on the brilliant creative minds behind the stories audiences love, and to remind the industry that fair contracts, fair payment and public recognition for writers must be central to any sustainable future for Irish storytelling.”
For more information on the Zebbie Awards or to arrange interviews, please contact Martha Kearns at StoryLab on +353 87 272 0212.
Notes to Editors
The Writers Guild of Ireland (WGI) is the representative body in Ireland for writers for the stage, screen, radio and digital media. The WGI is a member-driven organisation supported by Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, CnaM and the Arts Council. The WGI campaigns for rights, remuneration, more control of work and better recognition for its members. It represents over 400 Irish writers for film, television, theatre, radio, animation and games. It campaigns to ensure writers are recognised as the creative force without which, there is no production.
The Zebbie Awards are named in honour of O.Z. Whitehead (1911-1998), a Broadway and Hollywood actor who supported, encouraged and financed new writing talent in Ireland after he moved to Dublin in 1963.
*The 2026 Zebbie Awards Nominees are:
Best Short Film Script
Mary is Missing – Aisling Byrne, Caitríona Daly
The Knife – Joy Nesbitt
Minding – Shannon Welby
Best Children’s & Young People’s TV Script
Maddie & Triggs, Ep149 “Dust Bunnies” – Nadine Lattimore
The Unreal, S2 Ep1 – Rodney Lee
Maddie & Triggs, Ep148 “Ice Cream” – Lisa O’Donovan
Best Radio & Audio Drama Script
Spooky FM: Jingle Hells – Peter Dunne
Safe Space – Caitlin Magnall-Kearns
Fragile Maoilíosa – Charlie McGuinness
Best Continuing Drama Script
Ros na Rún, S30 Ep27 – Peadar Cox
Ros na Rún, S29 Ep81 – Fíona Ní Dhuibhir
Fair City, S36 Ep25 – Senta Rich
Best Theatre Script
Dublin Gothic – Barbara Bergin
Jigsaw – Lee Coffey
Denouement – John Morton
Best TV Drama Script
Hidden Assets, S3 Ep1 – Mary Fox & Marty Thornton
Trespasses, Ep4 – Ailbhe Keogan
Mix Tape, Ep1 – Jo Spain
Best Feature Film Script
Fran the Man – Richie Conroy
Báite – Sheena Lambert
Four Mothers – Colin Thornton & Darren Thornton