Cartoon Saloon’s animated fantasy film My Father’s Dragon came out on top at the 2023 Irish Animation Awards (Saturday 27th May) with an incredible five wins, including Best Irish Feature. My Father’s Dragon was directed by Oscar® nominated Nora Twomey.
Igloo Animation’s children’s series produced for RTÉjr, Tales from Dún Draíochta came away with two wins, including Best Animated Kids Series. Sixteen South’s preschool series Odo also bagged two awards on the night.
The biennial awards ceremony was held in-person for the first time since 2019 and was hosted by Irish TV and radio star, Baz Ashmawy in Galway. This was a record year for the Irish Animation Awards as 53 Irish productions were nominated.
The ceremony this year featured the inaugural Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award, which was presented to Teresa Mc Grane, formerly of Screen Ireland, who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support and nurture the growth of the Irish Animation industry.
27/05/2023 repro free: Winners of 5 awards Cartoon Saloon at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Cartoon Saloon winners of 5 awards from left Paul Young, Nora Twomey, Stephen Wittingham, Giovanna Ferrari and Richie Cody, at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway . Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Cartoon Saloon winners of 5 awards from left Paul Young, Nora Twomey, Stephen Wittingham, Giovanna Ferrari and Richie Cody, at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway . Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Animated Preschool Series award went to Circle Square by Tom Gray, Léan Duffey, Gary Timpson, Andrew Kavanagh, Dublin from Kavaleer Productions, Wyndley Animation at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway . Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Animated Kids Series 6+ award went to Tales from Dún Draíochta by Igloo Animations, Paul Dowling, Trevor Courtney, Kelly Gunning, Dublin at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway . Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Animated Kids Series 6+ award went to Tales from Dún Draíochta by Igloo Animations, Paul Dowling, Trevor Courtney, and Kelly Gunning presented by Karen Sheridan, (LHS) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway . Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Kids Choice 6+ award went to The Cuphead Show! by Lighthouse Studios namely Ruchi Shah, Claire Finn, and Paul Madden at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Kids Choice 6+ award went to The Cuphead Show! by Lighthouse Studios namely Ruchi Shah, Claire Finn, Paul Madden presented by Deirdre Barry, National Talent Academy for Animation at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Neil Noone, Corpay presented Winner of the Best Writer for Preschool Animation award went to Odo – Doodle Song by Ishai Ravid picked up by Colin Williams, Sixteen South at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Writer for Preschool Animation award went to Odo – Doodle Song by Ishai Ravid picked up by Colin Williams, Sixteen South at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Writer for an animated series award went to Tales from Dún Draíochta- Lusmore and the Rapping Fairy by Trevor Courtney, Igloo Animations at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Writer for an animated series award went to Tales from Dún Draíochta- Lusmore and the Rapping Fairy by Trevor Courtney, Igloo Animations at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Louise Ryan Screen Ireland presented Winner of the Best Writer for an animated series award went to Tales from Dún Draíochta- Lusmore and the Rapping Fairy by Trevor Courtney, Igloo Animations at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro Winner of the Best Animation for Apps, Games and Interactive award went to Waggle ( Maeve MacNamara, Katie McNeice, Jim Pipe and Paul Kerrigan, HMH, Dublin) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Stephen Murnane presented Winner of the Best Animation for Apps, Games and Interactive award went to Waggle ( Maeve MacNamara, Katie McNeice, Jim Pipe and Paul Kerrigan, HMH, Dublin) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Art Direction and Design award went to Bardo picked up by Claire Lennon, Dublin at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Art Direction and Design award went to Bardo picked up by Claire Lennon, Dublin at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Director of an Animated Series award went to Karma’s World by Pete McEvoy and Bronagh O’Hanlon, Brown Bag Films at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Director of an Animated Series award went to Karma’s World by Pete McEvoy and Bronagh O’Hanlon, Brown Bag Films presented by Andrew Byrne Screen Ireland at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Director of an Animated Series award went to Karma’s World by Pete McEvoy and Bronagh O’Hanlon, Brown Bag Films presented by Andrew Byrne Screen Ireland at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish Feature or Special award went to Katja Schumann and Nora Twomey from Cartoon Saloon for My Father’s Dragon at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish Feature or Special award went to Nora Twomey for My Father’s Dragon by Cartoon Saloon at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish Feature or Special award went to Nora Twomey for My Father’s Dragon by Cartoon Saloon at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Niamh Ní Chroinin presented Winner of the Best Sound Design award to Ed Costello for Memento Mori at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Sound Design award went to Memento Mori by Ed Costello at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Sound Design award went to Memento Mori by Ed Costello at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Phillip Clapperton presented winner of the Best Animation Sequence award to The Cuphead Show! (Paul Madden, Ruchi Shah, Marty Broski and Claire Finn, from Lighthouse Studios at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Animation Sequence award to The Cuphead Show! (Paul Madden, Ruchi Shah, Marty Broski and Claire Finn, from Lighthouse Studios at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Animated Short Film, award went to Soul Office by TAUNT (Tom Getty and Grace Loughrey) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Animated Short Film, award went to Soul Office by TAUNT (Tom Getty and Grace Loughrey) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Mark Coleman, Pixit presented winner of the Best Animated Short Film, award to Soul Office by TAUNT (Tom Getty, Grace Loughrey) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish Feature or Special award went to My Father’s Dragon by Cartoon Saloon (Giovanna Ferrari Kilkenny ) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish Feature or Special award went to My Father’s Dragon by Cartoon Saloon (Giovanna Ferrari) presented by Barry Reid, Gorilla Post Production at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Editing award went to My Father’s Dragon by Richie Cody, Cartoon Saloon at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure Richie Cody, Kilkenny 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Editing award went to My Father’s Dragon by Richie Cody, Cartoon Saloon at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure Richie Cody, Kilkenny 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Editing award went to My Father’s Dragon by Richie Cody presented by Andy Wyatt, Toonboom at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure Richie Cody, Kilkenny 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish IP award went to Odo – Reggie by Colin Williams, Belfast at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish IP award went to Odo – Reggie created by Colin Williams presented by Eileen Bell, Enterprise Ireland at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best Irish IP award went to Odo – Reggie created by Colin Williams presented by Eileen Bell, Enterprise Ireland at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best VFX award went to My Father’s Dragon by Cartoon Saloon (Stephen Wittingham) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Best VFX award went to My Father’s Dragon by Cartoon Saloon (Stephen Wittingham) at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award went to Teresa Mc Grane presented by Moe Honan, Chair of Animation Ireland and Ronan McCabe, Animation Ireland CEO at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award went to Teresa Mc Grane presented by Moe Honan, Chair of Animation Ireland and Ronan McCabe, Animation Ireland CEO at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award went to Teresa Mc Grane presented by Moe Honan, Chair of Animation Ireland and Ronan McCabe, Animation Ireland CEO at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure 
27/05/2023 repro free: Winner of the Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award went to Teresa Mc Grane at the 2023 Irish Animation awards at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill, Galway. Photo: Andrew Downes, xposure
Commenting on the awards ceremony, Animation Ireland’s Chief Executive, Ronan McCabe said; “It has been yet another superb and record-breaking year for Irish animation with 53 productions nominated. The sector is continuing to power ahead both in terms of the quality of the work being produced, which you can certainly see from the awards ceremony and the number of productions being delivered. The Irish Animation Awards is a wonderful occasion to celebrate the hard work, dedication, talent and outstanding creativity we have here in Ireland.’’
Ronan went on to say “Animation Ireland puts a huge emphasis on education and training and helping the next generation of animators to thrive, so it was amazing to see so many fantastic entries for Best Student Film, which was won by Avery Angle for Small Makings of a Storm. Thanks very much to our sponsors for their support, all twenty-seven of them! The response from the industry has been overwhelming and whilst our headline sponsors are RTÉ and Screen Ireland, we could not have run this event without all of them and in this instance they are truly too numerous to mention!’’
Winners of each category received a statuette designed by animator, film maker and teacher Eimhín McNamara. The statuette resembles a Phenakistoscope, an early animation device used to create an illusion of motion.
Animation Ireland is the trade association for Ireland’s animation studios, representing forty-four member studios, who employ more than two thousand people on the island of Ireland. The sector has seen meteoric growth in recent years, with the industry now generating almost €200 million for the economy annually, as Irish animation projects are viewed in over 190 countries worldwide.
Full List of Winners:
| Category | Production | Winners |
| Best Animated Preschool Series | Circle Square | Kavaleer Productions, Wyndley Animation |
| Best Animated Kids Series 6+ | Tales from Dún Draíochta | Igloo Animations, Trevor Courtney |
| Kids Choice Preschool | Fia’s Fairies | Little Moon Animation, Vanessa Robinson, Eoghan Garvey |
| Kids Choice 6+ | The Cuphead Show! | Lighthouse StudiosRuchi Shah – Paul Madden – Cormac Slevin |
| Best Animated Short Film | Soul Office | TAUNT |
| Best International Short Film | The Stranger | Jihye Jung, Jusuk Lee, Hyunju Kim |
| Best Writer for Preschool Animation | Odo – Doodle Song | Ishai Ravid |
| Best Writer for an animated series | Tales from Dún Draíochta- Lusmore and the Rapping Fairy | Trevor Courtney |
| Best Animation for Apps, Games and Interactive | Waggle | Katie McNeice, Maeve MacNamara, Jim Pipe |
| Best Art Direction and Design | Bardo | Aisling Conroy, Alan Holly, Cora McKenna |
| Best Director of an Animated Series | Karma’s world | Bronagh O’Hanlon, Pete McEvoy, Brian O’Brien |
| Best Animation Sequence | The Cuphead Show! | Julius Mingi, Dindo Santos, Gian Carla Atienza |
| Best Music | My Father’s Dragon | Jeff Danna, Mychael Danna |
| Best Sound Design | Memento Mori | Ed Costello, Ryan Quinn |
| Best Irish Feature or Special | My Father’s Dragon | Cartoon Saloon |
| Best Innovation in Animation | Face2Face – Charles & Camilla | Retinize & Flickerpix |
| Best Irish IP | Odo – Reggie | Colin Williams |
| Best Student Film | Small Makings of a Storm | Avery Angle |
| Best Editing | My Father’s Dragon | Richie Cody, Darren Holmes |
| Best Storyboarding | My Father’s Dragon | Giovanna Ferrari |
| Best VFX | My Father’s Dragon | Cartoon Saloon |
| Outstanding Contribution to the Industry | Teresa Mc Grane |