Comedy Busary Win

The Irish Times reports that the first annual Dermot Morgan Foundation Bursary has been awarded to Diarmuid O'Brien - an IPSG member - for his comedy script about the workings of the Irish secret service.

The €5,000 award, in honour of the late Scrap Saturday and Father Ted comedian, was presented to its inaugural recipient, Diarmuid O'Brien, from Co Cork, in Dublin at the weekend.

The bursary is intended to encourage and support Irish comedy writing talent. A script and series proposal, based on his application, will be developed over the coming months. "He's a bit of a dark comic, and is clearly talented, so it's great to be able to give him the bursary to allow him take time off to develop the idea," said Don Morgan, Dermot's son.