Hundreds animated this past weekend in Kilkenny city over Lighthouse jobs

Over three hundred animators and artists visited Kilkenny last Saturday to check out the city's newest animation studio, Lighthouse Studios and to pay a visit to the Oscar-nominated studio, Cartoon Saloon.

Hundreds of people took up the invitation and see what Kilkenny has to offer in terms of employment in the animation industry and also savour its wonderful culture.

The Kilkenny Animation Studios Open Day was a resounding success and it is hoped that as a result of the venture many artists, animators and other creative talent will decide to move to the Marble City.

Due to the huge response there are plans to host another similar event in the near future.

Head of Studio Operations at Cartoon Saloon, Catherine Roycroft explained that it was a ‘huge Team Kilkenny' effort.

“There's a huge 'Team Kilkenny' working on it and it is important to recognise those people. Tourism Kilkenny, Kilkenny County Council, Taste of Kilkenny, the Medieval Mile Museum, the train tours, St Canice's Cathedral, Rothe House, the Pembroke Hotel, the Butler Gallery and the Parade Tower to name a few," she said.

In February Cartoon Saloon and Mercury Filmworks announced the creation of a new animation studio, Lighthouse Studios.

One hundred new jobs are to be created over the coming months and a further forty jobs to follow.