Richard Curran MC

Richard Curran is a journalist, broadcaster and author. He is the presenter of The Business radio show on RTE Radio One and a columnist with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent. He has worked in business journalism through TV, radio, print and online for 29 years. He is a former business editor of the Irish Independent and former deputy editor of The Sunday Business Post. He has co-written two books, one on Irish entrepreneurs and the other on the multi-billion euro collapse of Irish Nationwide Building Society. He has also made several television documentaries for RTE including, Future Shock: Property Crash in 2007 and The Battle For Rural Ireland in 2015.

Part 1 beginning at 9.15 am

Part 1: Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart present the Irish Folklore Trilogy, an exhibition opening 17th November 2023 in the National Design and Crafts Gallery. This exhibition is a celebration of Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon’s Academy Award®-nominated modern animated classics which comprise the Irish Folklore Trilogy – The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014) and WolfWalkers (2020). All three films weave folklore and mythology into the narrative, creating a deep connection between the characters, their adventures, and the rich cultural heritage of Ireland.

Part 2 beginning at 11.00 am

Part 2: Key Note Addresses from Holger Strøm and Nora Twomey followed by Panel Discussion and Q&A. Celebrated Danish designer Holger Strøm spent three years as a staff designer in KDW between 1970 & 1973. 50 years later we celebrate the iconic “IQlight” as Holger takes his exhibition from Bornholm’s Center for Crafts to Kilkenny.

Co-founder and Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon Nora Twomey joins us to speak and illustrate the story and evolution of Cartoon Saloon.

Panellists include:

Design Historian, Consultant and Senior Lecturer in Design and Visual Culture at IADT, Dublin Dr. Linda King;

Senior Lecturer in Design at the TUDublin, School of Art & Design Robert Tully; Artist and creator at Nicholas Mosse and Guardian of Kilfane Waterfall & Garden Susan Mosse;

Co-founder and Creative Director of Cartoon Saloon IFTA winner and Academy Award®, Emmy and Bafta nominee Paul Young;

Senior Vice President at Fidelity Investments and Kilkenny native Aidan Kenny

Closing remarks by Mary V Mullin, Chairman of the Sir Misha Black Awards for Distinguished Services to Design Education, Former Secretary General of the International Council of Graphic Design, Founding Director of the National Centre of Culture and Arts in Dublin (now the Museum of Modern Art).

Followed by complimentary lunch in the library, Kilkenny Design Centre

Part 1 Further Detail – Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart

Irish Folklore Trilogy – National Design and Crafts Gallery, opening Nov 17th 2023

This exhibition is a celebration of Kilkenny-based Cartoon Saloon’s Academy Award®-nominated modern animated classics which comprise the Irish Folklore Trilogy – The Secret of Kells (2009) is set in the rich cultural and historical context of 9th-century Ireland and the clash between Christianity and pagan Celtic beliefs. It tells the story of a young boy named Brendan who becomes involved in the creation of an illuminated manuscript, the Book of Kells, bringing history and mythology together into a visually stunning story that celebrates the importance of cultural heritage, art and faith; “Song of the Sea” (2014) is based around brother and sister, Ben and Saoirse, who discover that Saoirse is a Selkie, a creature in Irish/ Scottish folklore that can transform from a seal into a human. Folklore plays a central role in the story, enriching the characters’ motivations and relationships, and celebrating the rich storytelling traditions of Ireland; and WolfWalkers (2020), set in 17th-century Ireland during the English colonisation, where young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. She befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night, based on Irish legends of the werewolves of Ossory.

All three films weave folklore and mythology into the narrative, creating a deep connection between the characters, their adventures, and the rich cultural heritage of Ireland. These films not only entertain but also serve as a celebration of Irish folklore, showcasing its enduring relevance in contemporary storytelling. The exhibition will feature artwork from all three films, shown together for the first time and demonstrating the unique visual style and exquisitely handcrafted animation which has garnered the studio international acclaim and multiple awards.