THEY'LL roll out the red carpet - or perhaps it will be green? - in Dublin next month without fear of picketing writers, so perhaps a few stars hungry for some paparazzi attention will jet over for the fifth annual Irish Film and Television Awards, set for Sunday, February 17 at the Gaiety Theatre.

Nominees were announced last week, and a host of Irish old-timers and new stars are up for honors. Leading the way is the teenage dynamo Saoirse Ronan, the Carlow native who's named as a rising star nominee (alongside the likes of author Cecelia Ahern, but surely she's already risen to great heights?), and best supporting actress nominee for her part in Atonement.

Our front page star this week, Fionnula Flanagan, an award winner last year, is also cited twice, for her starring role in the Showtime series Brother-hood, and a supporting part in the Irish show Paddywhackery.

Dublin native Stuart Townsend is nominated for a screenwriting award for his Battle in Seattle biopic, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers also gets a bow for his hit show The Tudors. Other nominees include Gabriel Byrne, Cillian Murphy and Colm Meaney.

To attract some Hollywood A-listers, there are also categories for international actor and actress, and film. For a full list, visit www.ifta.ie.

Aine Moriarty, CEO of the Irish Film and Television Academy (IFTA), said, "It has been another strong year for Irish talent with world-class Irish production."