Get your tickets for Animation Ireland Meitheal, 22 May in Galway
Creative Europe Desk Ireland is delighted to support Animation Ireland Meitheal which takes place on Friday 22 May in the Galway Bay Hotel.
Attendance is free and includes refreshments. The conference runs from 9.30am to 5.00pm followed by an evening networking event with a BBQ.
Book tickets for Animation Ireland Meitheal 2026 on Eventbrite.
This year’s Meitheal programme focuses on expanding global opportunities, exploring new strategies for building IP, and examining the evolving relationship between technology and storytelling.
The event will be hosted by Animation Ireland CEO Ronan McCabe and Chair Moe Honan. The day features a line-up of Irish and international speakers spanning creative development, production, technology, and global markets.
You can find Animation Ireland Meitheal programme details here.
Programme Highlights
- Bayside Chat: All Things Development with Elizabeth Waybright Taylor, Creative Development Executive and former Vice President of Development at Disney. She will reflects on her 16-year career shaping global stories, from early concept through to worldwide release and what studios are looking for today in an increasingly competitive landscape.
- Bayside Chat: How to Make an Oscar-Nominated Short. 'Retirement Plan' director John Kelly offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the journey from idea to Academy Award nomination, unpacking the realities of development, financing, production and the festival circuit.
Panel Discussions
- Seeking Opportunities in Alternative Markets: Exploring Asia, Latin America, the Nordic region and Central & Eastern Europe as creative partners. This session looks at how producers can build meaningful international collaborations, access new funding streams and tap into emerging production ecosystems. Panellists: Coral Vázquez Zepeda, Juraj Krasnohorsky, Tonje Skar ReiersenModerator: Gerry Shirren.
- Building IP: Creating Fandom and Accessing Audiences. Industry leaders examine how ideas evolve into scalable IP, how to identify and grow core audiences, and how to build fandoms that sustain long-term success in a crowded global market. Panellists: Sherry Gunther Shugerman, Dustin Ferrer, Becky Friedman, Harriet Jones Moderator: Andrew Kavanagh.
- Where Tech Meets Story: Innovation in the Animation Pipeline. A forward-looking discussion on how emerging tools and technologies are reshaping production and how innovation can support, rather than overshadow, storytelling. Panellists: Tamsin Lyons, Francesco Siddi, Jonathan Mortimer, Ben KlimmekModerator: Nicky Gogan.