GIFTED Killarney actor Michael Fassbender swept the boards after strolling down the red carpet in some style for the Irish Film and Television Awards.

The glitzy ceremony, hosted by Ryan Tubridy at Dublin's Burlington Hotel on Saturday night, saw Fassbender and the epic movie Hunger reign supreme.

The Long Kesh prison saga charts the final days of hunger striker Bobby Sands and the Kerry thespian's moving portrayal of the iconic hunger striker ensured Fassbender enjoyed a night of double celebration.

He clinched the Irish Film Board rising star award as well as the coveted best actor gong.

He was also nominated for a separate award - best actor in a supporting role - for his role in the 2008 television drama The Devil's Whore.

Fassbender went on a medically-supervised diet to play Sands who died, at the age of 27, at the Maze prison in Northern Ireland in 1981.

Sands refused food for 66 days in a bid to be recognised as a political prisoner. The film has already picked up a glittering array of other awards, including the Gucci Group Award at the Venice Film Festival and the prestigious Camera d'Or prize at the Cannes Film Festival last May.

The directorial debut of Turner prize-winning artist Steve McQueen, Hunger scooped half a dozen IFTAs at Saturday night's glittering ceremony.

The production won best film and Liam Cunningham got the supporting actor nod for his turn in the movie.

Hunger also won the best sound award for Ronan Hill and Mervyn Moore, as well as the best original music score for David Holmes and the prize for best production design, thanks to Tom McCullagh.

Fassbender, 31, also recently won the top prize at the prestigious London Film Critic's Circle awards.

Despite the fact that he was born in Germany and raised in Killarney, he won the best British actor prize for his performance in Hunger.
He also won the best actor accolade at the 11th British Independent Film Awards.

The TG4 documentaty on the life and times of Mon-signor Hugh O'Flaherty - Pimpernel sa Vatican - was also nominated for an IFTA award and the TV sports programme, The Road to Croker, presented by former Taoieach, Bertie Ahern, from Paidi " Se’s pub in Ventry, was also shortlisted.