Performing Arts Show “Space Between Songs”

FET College Dhúlaigh, in partnership with the City of Dublin ETB’s Sports and Cultural Council, is pleased to announce the launch of this year’s Art, Craft and Design Awards.

FET College Art, Craft and Design students across the City of Dublin ETB are invited to REFLECT on their work from the past academic year and select a piece they are most proud of, completed as part of their coursework. Submissions may be in any medium, format, or theme, and should demonstrate your skills within your area of study.

This is an opportunity to present your work in a professional context and to consider how your creative practice can develop BEYOND  college into further study, industry, and wider opportunities within art and design.

Awards will be presented for the best student work in each category, along with Highly Commended recognitions.

Selected winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony as part of the FET College Dhúlaigh Art & Design Graduate Show on 7th May at The Atrium, Fingal County Council, Swords.

For submission details, please click the Entry Form.

Closing date 20^th April.

Click on a poster to view it fullscreen.

Artwork designed by Graphic Design level 6 student Oleksandra Mukhachova.

Students from the Media Department at City of Dublin FET College Dhúlaigh have teamed up with local community radio station Near 90.3FM to produce an exciting new podcast series, Mad About Media, which explores the role and influence of media in today’s rapidly evolving digital world.

The podcast was officially launched by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Ray McAdam, at a special event in Near FM’s studios in the Northside Civic Centre. Speaking at the launch, the Lord Mayor emphasised the importance of media literacy in an era where “truth and opinion now often sit side by side.” He also commended the strong partnership between City of Dublin ETB and Near FM, highlighting the valuable opportunities it creates for students to develop their skills and critically engage with modern media.

Hosted by Dhúlaigh media production graduate Sarah Fitzgerald, Mad About Media features a panel of current students including Aaron McGee O’Reilly, Erica Milling, and Aoibh Cowan. The podcast brings together a wide range of expert voices and perspectives, with contributors such as Black & Irish podcast founder Leon Diop, DCU School of Communications professor Dr Roddy Flynn, and ESRI senior research officer Gretta Mohan.

The series not only explores key issues in media and communications but also provides students with hands-on experience in broadcasting and content creation. Head of Media at Dhúlaigh, Dave Curran, highlighted the importance of such initiatives, saying: “Collaborations like this are invaluable for our students, who get to experience producing live radio and the highs and challenges that come with that. We would like to particularly thank series producer Ciarán Murray and editor Jaye Palmer for giving our students this great opportunity.”

City of Dublin FET College Dhúlaigh offers over 70 courses across a range of levels, including Post-Leaving Certificate programmes, BA degrees, apprenticeships, traineeships, and lifelong learning opportunities.

Applications for courses starting this September are now open. For more information follow @Dhulaigh on social media to stay up to date with college news and events.

You can listen to Mad About Media  now at nearcast.ie.

Summer 2026 Exam Timetable

The Entrepreneurship course at City of Dublin FET College Dhúlaigh, recently hosted “IGNITE” panel discussion event at its Coolock Campus. Keynote speakers included Sarah Kelly, founder of Herology Supplements, Darren Thompson, founder of Coopers Bottle Shops in Sutton and Clontarf, and Claire Fullum, founder of REMI and TRUA haircare clinics. The college were also delighted to welcome Rose McGahan, Senior Enterprise Development Officer for Fingal Local Enterprise Office officially to open the event.

These three dynamic entrepreneurs openly shared their journeys, challenges, and insights with the audience of students and staff from Dhúlaigh. The event marked a collaboration between both the Entrepreneurship and Traineeship in TV, Film & Audio Practices  programmes, which aim to prepare participants for the world of work.

Hosted by media trainee Kevin Connolly, IGNITE took the form of a fireside-chat style conversation where the panel shared their learnings with the audience. The event aimed to bridge the gap between academic learning and the realities of entrepreneurship, offering students an honest and practical insight into what it takes to start and sustain a business.

IGNITE reflects FET College Dhúlaigh’s ongoing commitment to connecting students with industry and real-world experience and opportunity. Courses at the college prepare students for the modern world of work by connecting education with industry, experience, and opportunity. IGNITE demonstrated what entrepreneurship looks like beyond the classroom.

The QQI Level 6 Entrepreneurship programme at Dhúlaigh is designed for both those with a business idea who do not know where to start, as well as those who already have a small business but would like to take it to the next level.

“We would like to say a huge thank you to our amazing speakers. It was so inspiring and valuable for our students to hear about the highs and lows of running a business. It helps to prepare them for that reality, which is always an objective of the entrepreneurship course” said Sharon McIlvenna, Programme Coordinator and event organiser.

“Our TV & Film traineeship is designed to bridge the gap between education and the media industry,” said Ray Coleman, TV, Film & Audio Practices Traineeship Coordinator. “Events like this provided real-life experience for our students and, with Ireland’s screen sector continuing to expand, our programme offers a direct pathway into employment with some of the country’s top media companies.”

Applications are now open for all courses, including the Traineeship in TV & Film Practices and the Entrepreneurship programme at FET College Dhúlaigh. For more information, follow the college on social media  @Dhulaigh

The Entrepreneurship course at Dhúlaigh invites students to a panel speaker event “IGNITE, Ask, Learn, Launch” at our Coolock Campus on March 11^th at 11am.

IGNITE brings together three enterprising and dynamic entrepreneurs for a panel discussion where they openly share their journeys, challenges, and insights with the audience.

Taking place on March 11th at 11:00am at the Dhúlaigh Coolock Campus, IGNITE marks the first event of its kind at the college.

The event is being run by The Entrepreneurship Course in collaboration with the Traineeship in TV & Film Practices course at FET College Dhúlaigh.

IGNITE is a fireside-chat style conversation where the panel will share their learnings with the audience. The event aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and the realities of entrepreneurship, offering students an honest and practical insight into what it takes to start and sustain a business. The panel will feature:

• Sarah Kelly, Founder of Herology Supplements
• Darren Thompson, Owner and Founder of Coopers
• Claire Fullum, Founder of REMI and TRUA Clinic

Through open discussion and personal storytelling, these entrepreneurs will share their journeys — including challenges, setbacks, key decisions, and lessons learned along the way.

IGNITE reflects FET College Dhúlaigh’s ongoing commitment to connecting students with industry and real-world experience and opportunity. Courses prepare students for the modern world of work by connecting education with industry, experience, and opportunity. IGNITE is about showing students what entrepreneurship looks like beyond the classroom.

The QQI Level 6 Entrepreneurship programme at Dhúlaigh is designed for both those with a business idea who don’t know where to start as well as those that have a small business but would like to take it to the next level. “This event aims to provide real insights and learnings from those entrepreneurs who are already on this journey” says Sharon McIlvenna, Programme coordinator and event organiser.

“Our TV & Film traineeship is designed to bridge the gap between education and the media industry” says Ray Coleman, TV, Film & Audio Practices Traineeship Coordinator, “events like this provide real life experience for our students and with Ireland’s screen sector continuing to expand, our programme offers a direct pathway into employment with some of the country’s top media companies”

Applications are now open for all courses, including the Traineeship in TV & Film Practices and the Entrepreneurship programmes at FET College Dhúlaigh. Follow us on social media @Dhulaigh.

For more information contact courses coordinators:

Entrepreneurship: [email protected]

Traineeship in TV & Film Practices: [email protected]

Applications are now open.

Please click here to apply. 

Interviews March 11th from 2pm

Courses that hold interviews will be holding first round interviews on Wednesday March 11th. Courses will interview in the campus they are located in. Applicants who apply before March 4th will be called for interview and will recieve an email with the time and location of the interview.

Courses holding interviews are:

Nursing – Kilbarrack campus
Occupational Therapy Assistant – Kilbarrack campus
Healthcare & Physiotherapy Assistant – Kilbarrack campus
Theatre & Drama – Kilbarrack campus

Computer Science Year 2 – Coolock campus
Engineering Technology – Coolock campus
Pre-Apprenticeship Engineering & Technology – Coolock campus
Animation – Coolock campus
Early Learning & Care – Coolock campus
Creative Writing for Digital Media – Coolock campus
Outdoor Adventure Management – Coolock campus
Film Production – Coolock campus

Architectural Design & Technology Foundation – Raheny Campus
Fashion Design – Raheny Campus
Art & Design Portfolio Preparation – Raheny Campus
Advanced Certificate in Art Level 5/6 – Raheny Campus
Graphic Design – Raheny Campus
Interior Design – Raheny Campus
Photography – Raheny Campus
Pottery for Beginners – Raheny Campus
Craft Production – Raheny Campus

The Animation & Media Departments at City of Dublin FET College Dhúlaigh, are delighted to announce that Keyframe takes place from the 9th to the 12th February.

Keyframe, which is in its twelfth year, will see talks by animation and media industry professionals in the Coolock campus canteen. All students are welcome to attend these talks which take place from 9.30am on Monday – Thursday.

See the schedule of talks below:

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, are delighted to invite senior cycle students to our Art & Design Taster Workshops 2026 at our Raheny Campus on Wednesday, 11th March, from 12:00pm to 2:00pm.

These open workshops are designed for students who may be interested in pursuing an education in art and design and would like to experience studying in this creative field. The taster sessions will consist of two workshops, each just under one hour long. Students will have the opportunity to choose one workshop per session, allowing them to explore a range of creative disciplines. Workshop options include:

· Architecture

· Interior Design

· Graphic Design

· Fashion Design

· Photography

· Art Portfolio Development (with a focus on ceramics and printmaking)

Participants will work alongside our current students, gaining hands-on experience and insight into our courses, teaching style, and creative environment. The event will also provide an opportunity to tour Dhúlaigh’s Raheny campus facilities and learn more about various courses.  Each workshop can fit a maximum of 12 students therefore it is advised to apply early.

If you would like to do a taster workshop, enter your name on this Booking form

The Fashion Design and Styling course at City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, are pleased to share that they have started a new collaboration with Temple Bar boutique Tamp & Stitch.

This partnership will involve a Fashion Styling & Merchandising live project, giving students the opportunity to engage with real fashion practice and creative industry processes.

The project will focus on developing strong styling concepts, merchandising strategies, and practical, behind the scenes experience. You can follow the project on their Instagram page

Animation students at City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh have been working in collaboration with RTÉKids to create engaging visuals for a range of popular podcasts.

Through this partnership, students gained valuable hands-on experience producing animations for podcasts such as Storytime Takeover, Nero’s Class, Galaxyfest and Kozy Moles. The project offered students the opportunity to work with a real client while developing creative solutions to bring audio content to life visually, particularly for use across social media platforms.

Head of Podcasts for RTÉ Kids, Nicky Coghlan, praised the collaboration, saying:

“We have been very lucky to collaborate with the animation course in Dhúlaigh since 2019 and it’s been a very fruitful partnership. For the students, having a project with a client makes all the difference in bridging the gap between college and work. One of the challenges we face is visualising our podcasts, especially in a way that engages audiences on social media. The HND and BA students on Dhúlaigh’s animation course have crafted wonderful, dynamic visuals that bring our audio to life in a different way. We benefit by getting these lovely animations, and the students are delighted for the exposure and a credit with the national broadcaster.”

Well done to all students and staff involved in this successful project. Check out RTÉ KIDS to see the podcast projects in action.

Dhúlaigh Information Evening

Wednesday, 4th March | 3.00–7.00 pm

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, invites prospective students, families and friends to our Information Evening on Wednesday, 4th March, from 3.00 to 7.00 pm, at our Coolock Campus, Barryscourt Road.

With more than 70 courses available, FET College Dhúlaigh offers a wide range of study options, including PLC courses at QQI Levels 5 and 6, Higher National Diplomas, Apprenticeships, Traineeships, BTEI, and BA Honours Degrees.

This event is an excellent opportunity to meet our staff and students, explore the full range of courses on offer, and ask questions about progression routes and career opportunities. No registration is required—walk-ins are  welcome.

All faculty departments from our three campuses will be based in our Coolock campus canteen, allowing visitors to easily gather information on courses or learn more about programmes they have already applied for.

Attendees can also find out about:

• Disability and learner supports

• Grants and financial supports

• Career guidance and progression options

• Portfolio and interview requirements

For updates on news and events, follow us on social media @Dhulaigh.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Information Evening.

 
Evening Classes January 2026

Click on this link to fill in our form to register your details and we will be in touch.

Students from our Photography QQI Level 6 course recently took part in the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship (NHA) Capstone Event at the FET College Dhúlaigh’s Kilbarrack campus. This exciting project brought together learners from Hairdressing, Photography, Performing Arts, and Media Production in a vibrant cross-department course collaboration.

During the event, models showcased a range of imaginative and expertly crafted hairstyles by our NHA apprentices, all captured by our talented photography students. Opportunities like this give learners hands-on, professional experience while helping them build the practical and digital skills needed for a successful career in today’s dynamic photography industry.

If you would like to know more about the Photography QQI Level 6 Course at Dhúlaigh check out the link, and follow us on Instagram

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh celebrated their National Hairdressing Apprenticeship (NHA) capstone event recently at their Kilbarrack campus, showcasing a display of hairdressing creativity from its participants.  

The capstone event was hosted by RTÉ presenter Nuala Carey, and included special guest Dublin City Councillor Supriya Singh. On the night, apprentices and their models took to the stage with hairstyles inspired by themes such as Futuristic and Bratz dolls, demonstrating innovation, technical skill, and artistic flair. 

The Dhúlaigh Apprentice of the Year award was presented to Nikki Murtagh in recognition of her outstanding performance and dedication to the programme.  

The NHA has a unique “earn while you learn” structure, where apprentices train four days a week in a professional salon and one day per week in “Cabello”, Dhúlaigh’s industry-standard training salon. Apprentices gain both practical and theoretical skills that prepare them for successful careers in the hairdressing industry. 

Many participating apprentices are currently placed in prestigious salons including Cats Hair Salon on Clarendon Street and Hession’s Hairdressing, reflecting the strong industry partnerships and high calibre training offered by the NHA programme. 

Speaking at the event, Principal Patricia O’Brien Brennan praised the commitment of both staff and apprentices: 

“I want to thank all the staff and students involved in the event who put so much effort into the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship at Dhúlaigh and who are creating the hairdressers of the future.” 

For more information about the National Hairdressing Apprenticeship and over 70 Further Education and Training courses available, visit www.dhulaigh.ie. 

View Gallery Below – photos courtesy of Aron Cahill

Applications will be opening soon.

If you want to leave your name and email we can contact you when applications open. Leave your name here.

Alternatively you can apply for our courses through fetchcourses.ie

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh is proud to celebrate Owen Churcher and Adam Maguire, whose books have been shortlisted in the An Post Irish Book Awards.

Penguin TV , written by Owen Churcher and illustrated by Niamh Sharkey, is nominated in the Children’s Book of the Year (Junior) category. Owen is a tutor on the Graphic Design course at our Art & Design campus in Raheny.

The Bailout Babies  by Adam Maguire—formerly a tutor on Dhúlaigh’s Journalism course and now RTÉ Business News presenter—is nominated in the Non-Fiction Book of the Year category.

The public are being asked to Vote for their favourite books from this year. All voters will be entered into a draw to win one of five €100 National Book Tokens vouchers. Voting closes at 6pm on 16th November

Best of luck to our colleagues!   

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, Northeast Campus (formerly Coláiste Dhúlaigh) are offering the opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn how to start their own business. The Entrepreneurship hub, located in the college’s Kilbarrack campus, has a small number of places available for a one-year part-time course which begins in October and costs €50.

This QQI level 6 course is designed to support people who have innovative ideas, by equipping them with the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools needed to start their own businesses. Participants will gain access to a shared office hub, where they can collaborate with others and develop their marketing and business plans. The course combines lectures in entrepreneurship, start-your-own-business principles, and digital marketing with one-to-one mentoring from industry experts. Workshops will also feature entrepreneurs and specialists from a range of fields, offering valuable industry insights.

The course is open to people with business ideas in a wide variety of sectors, including the creative arts, the sports & leisure sector, art & design, science & IT and tourism & the outdoors. Graduates will leave the course with a clear business plan, complete with goals, strategies, and practical steps to bring their enterprise to market.

Under the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI), those in receipt of a social welfare payment can take part free of charge and retain their benefits, with tuition costs covered by the European Social Fund. Participants on Community Employment (CE) schemes or Tús may also apply. For others, there is a course fee of just €50.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to create your future, limited spaces are available, and all applicants will be contacted to discuss their background and business ideas before acceptance onto the course.

The Dhúlaigh Open Day takes place on Thursday 20^th November, during College Awareness Week. Drop into our Coolock campus between 10am-3pm to chat to our staff and students about all the courses on offer. There will be displays, talks and demonstrations to keep our visitors entertained throughout the day, with no appointment necessary. For more information follow Dhúlaigh on social media, and check out www.dhúlaigh.ie.

🌍 Erasmus+ Information  

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, Northeast Campus is delighted to offer our students the opportunity to take part in an Erasmus+ Mobility Placement in 2026. In association with Léargas, this programme gives students the chance to complete a work placement abroad in their vocational area, thereby gaining valuable international experience both professionally and personally. 

Taking part in Erasmus+ allows you to: 

• Experience working and living abroad 

• Add unique skills and experiences to your CV 

• Grow your independence and cultural awareness 

🌐 Host Countries 

In recent years, students have completed placements in Spain, Italy, Slovenia, France, Malta and Germany. 

🏠 Accommodation & Funding 

Erasmus+ funding supports travel and accommodation costs, ensuring students can make the most of this life-changing opportunity. 

📌 How to Apply 

Full details of how to apply will be sent to students later in the year.

👥 The Erasmus+ Team 

The dedicated Erasmus+ Team will: 

• Host online information sessions 

• Conduct interviews and oversee selections 

• Meet selected students in person to arrange placements 

• Provide an accompanying tutor to travel with students at the beginning of their placement 

• Stay in touch during placements via WhatsApp or email 

The Erasmus+ Team: 

Aine Daly & Declan Tracy 

🎓 Certification 

Students who successfully complete their Erasmus+ placement will receive: 

• QQI Level 5 Work Experience credit 

• Europass documentation 

• Certificate of Participation from the partner college 

✅ Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to gain international experience.

What our students say:
 

Congratulations to all of our graduates who received their certificated in a ceremony in The Helix in May. We are very proud of your achievements.

Check out our Instagram page for more pics, videos, news & events

Graduation Ceremony 7pm

Graduation Ceremony 4pm

Our Raheny Campus Art & Design Department gave a special complimentary print making workshop in May. Tutor Caitriona Bale taught participants how to make prints by working directly on a plate and transferring the image onto paper using a printing press. The workshop was delivered in a relaxed and creative environment and attendees got to take home their unique artworks.

If you would like to know more about the art of print making or you would like to apply for a course, check out our Art & Design Department. 

To pursue a course in printmaking click to see our Certificate in Art QQI Level 5 Course

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, Northeast Campus (formerly Coláiste Dhúlaigh) had a catwalk fashion show in Swords Pavilions on Saturday 17^th May. This event was Emceed by television stylist Marietta Doran and featured garments handmade by Dhúlaigh’s fashion design & styling course students, which were modelled by professionals from “Not Another Agency”.

The 15-minute runway shows took place on the hour at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. The show saw stunning designs and creativity by our QQI level 5 & 6 students. Event organizer Sarjit Verik says “we were super excited for this catwalk show which was a chance for our talented students to present their designs on a huge platform. We are so proud of their final collection which is a showcase of innovation, featuring advanced pattern drafting, expert garment construction and creative fabric and textile manipulation”

Applications are now open for all courses at Dhúlaigh. With campuses in Coolock, Kilbarrack and Raheny, we offer more than 70 courses at a range of levels on the National Framework of Qualifications. Dhúlaigh welcomes school leavers, mature students and those returning to education who want to learn a new skill. See more information about our Fashion Design & Styling Course.

CDCFE are celebrating 10 years of our Animation Top-Up Degree with a special screening of our Animation films. As well as this years students films there will be highlights from the last 10 years of students films.

The screening will take place on Friday 23rd May in the Lighthouse cinema at 3.30pm and all are welcome to attend.

City of Dublin FET College, Dhúlaigh, Northeast Campus (formerly Coláiste Dhúlaigh) are having a catwalk fashion show in Swords Pavilions on Saturday 17^th May. This event will be Emceed by television stylist Marietta Doran and will feature garments handmade by Dhúlaigh’s fashion design & styling course students, modelled by professionals from “Not Another Agency”.

The 15-minute runway shows will take place on the hour at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. Come along and see some stunning designs and creativity by our QQI level 5 & 6 students. Event organizer Sarjit Verik says “we are super excited for this catwalk show which is a chance for our talented students to present their designs on a huge platform. We are so proud of their final collection which is a showcase of innovation, featuring advanced pattern drafting, expert garment construction and creative fabric and textile manipulation”

Applications are now open for all courses at Dhúlaigh. With campuses in Coolock, Kilbarrack and Raheny, we offer more than 70 courses at a range of levels on the National Framework of Qualifications. Dhúlaigh welcomes school leavers, mature students and those returning to education who want to learn a new skill. For more information or to apply for a course visit www.dhulaigh.ie.

Art and Design Graduate Show at The Red Stables

We are delighted to invite you to the official opening of our Art and Design Graduate Show at The Red Stables, St. Anne’s Park, on May 1st from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. This event will showcase the incredible talents of our graduates across various art and design disciplines. The exhibition will be on show in The Winter Garden until Sunday 5th May, all are welcome to come and enjoy these artworks.

Event Details:

Date: May 1st
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: The Red Stables, St. Anne’s Park
Refreshments: Provided by Olive’s Restaurant

Featured Courses:

• • Craft Production – QQI Level 5
  • Certificate in Art – QQI Level 5
  • Photography – QQI Level 6
  • Interior Design – QQI Level 5
  • Graphic Design – QQI Level 5
  • Visual Communication & Illustration – QQI Level 6
  • Fashion Design & Styling – QQI Level 5 & 6
  • Certificate in Art & Design – QQI Level 6
  • Art and Design Portfolio – QQI Level 5
  • Architectural Design and Technology – QQI Level 5

Join us for an evening of creativity and inspiration as we celebrate the achievements of our talented graduates. We look forward to seeing you there!

The creative writing course are pleased to launch their class magazine “The Quill – Creative Chaos”. This publication is a collection of stories, poetry and illustrations by the creative writing class of 2025.

As the class wanted to reflect their own learning styles, the magazine focuses on accessibility. Therefore you can Read The Quill – Creative Chaos online or in hard copy. You can also listen below on our Soundcloud or view on our YouTube channel below

**Please note that workshop is now fully subscribed**

You are invited to a free print making workshop at Dhúlaigh’s art & design campus on Springdale Road, Raheny. Discover the art of printmaking in a relaxed and creative environment.

Learn how to make prints by working directly on a plate and then transferring the image onto paper using a printing press. It is a quick and easy process and requires no previous drawing skills.

Whether you’re looking to try something new or explore your artistic side, this workshop is perfect for beginners. Join us for this practical session where you’ll learn basic techniques, create your own prints, and take home your unique artworks. Places are limited so please reserve your spot by emailing [email protected]

Date: Tuesday,  20th May 2025

Location: Art & Design @Dhulaigh, Raheny Campus, Springdale Road, D05 XN65

Time: 10- 1pm (Tea/Coffee break 11am—11.30am)

How to apply: please email [email protected]

Congratulations to our media students who are nominated for the Smedias, Ireland’s equivalent of the student Oscars!

The nominees are:

Joel Zeiser – Film Documentary of the Year

Cormac Nolan – Sports Photographer of the Year

Colin Reddin – Short Film of the Year

David Larkin – Short Story of the Year

The college is very proud to have these students’ work recognised on a national level. They will face competition from Trinity College Dublin, IADT, University of Limerick, NUIG and many other prestigious institutions.

Fingers crossed for the award ceremony on Wednesday 9^th April in The Mansion House, Dublin

CDCFE are delighted to announce that two of their animation students have been honoured with awards for their short animated films.

Current BA degree student Xion Chong won First Frame Best Animated Film at the recent Dublin International Film Festival for “Disordered and Distorted”. The jury said “we were so widely inspired by the director’s skill in blending various animation styles so effectively, while also tackling the importance of mental health with such a distinctive and creative vision”.

Animation BA graduate Colin Reddin received the prize for Best Animation at the Royal Television Society Awards for his film “Going Nuts”. On graduating from Coláiste Dhúlaigh Colin was the recipient of a Cultural and Creative industries Skillnet Traineeship. He was selected to gain hands-on experience at Elk Studios, working on pre-production of an animated series. Colin has since been given a contract to work as a junior rigging artist at the company.

Course coordinator Kevin Lynch said “we are immensely proud of our students and graduates whose talent is acknowledged by their competing at a professional level and winning prestigious awards. The animation course at Coláiste Dhúlaigh prides itself on preparing students for the workplace through creative projects.”

The Animation Course at Coláiste Dhúlaigh CFE is a four-year programme comprising certificates from QQI, BTEC and a final year Top-Up Degree accredited by University of Wolverhampton. Students have access to industry standard software and learn skills necessary to gain employment such as drawing, sculpting, animation layouts and much more.

CDCFE are proud of their Animation students who have collaborated on RTÉ podcast project “Cookie Bytes” which will be broadcast this March. The series is RTÉ’s first about AI and the technology associated with it. The podcast launches on the 5th of March and one of these animations will feature on the Today Show on Friday 7th of March.

For several years our Animation HND and BA Degree class have worked on a client-based project with Nicky Coghlan, Radio and Podcast Producer at RTÉ. The project involves small  teams of CDCFE students creating a short piece of animation to synchronise with pre-recorded clips from an upcoming RTÉ Podcast series. This years HND group produced animated work for new RTÉ Podcast series Cookie Bytes, hosted by twin brothers Max and Sonny.

The students have previously created animations for shows such as Cereal, Storytime Takeover, The Neighbourhood as well as award-winning show Ecolution. The work has been broadcast on TV, screened on the RTÉ Player and used for promotion on the RTÉ website and social media sites.

RTÉ Podcast Producer Nicky Coghlan said “RTÉjr Radio has been very lucky to collaborate with the animation course in CDCFE since 2019. Having an industry client project bridges the gap between college and work, it’s been a fruitful partnership. The students have helped to address the challenges we faced in visualizing our podcasts to engage audiences on social media. CDCFE students have used our audio content to craft wonderful, dynamic visuals that bring our audio to life in a different way. RTÉ has been proud been proud to broadcast the work, giving the students credit.”

Listen to “Cookie Bytes” podcast here RTÉjr Podcasts