Academic, feminist, and social activist, Ailbhe Smyth, and animators Nora Twomey, Tomm Moore, and Paul Young, received Honorary Fellow awards from IADT at its annual degree conferral in the RDS on October 30.

The award of Honorary Fellow is a mark of high distinction that IADT makes to a person with an outstanding record of achievement in scholarship or practice or who has contributed to public service related to the mission and vision of IADT.

Born in Dublin, Ailbhe Smyth began her academic career early, lecturing in French, later founding the Women’s Education, Resource and Research Centre at University College Dublin, where she headed Women’s Studies until 2006. Her research notably highlighted gender disparities in senior academic positions across Ireland.

In presenting the Honorary Fellow award to Ailbhe, David Smith, IADT’s President said: “Previous Honorary Fellows that IADT has recognised have distinguished themselves in academia, professional practice, activism, and social justice. Ailbhe has the distinction of having contributed to Irish society in all of these areas.”

 

“Best known in Ireland as a prominent academic, feminist, and LGBTQ+ activist, she has played a pivotal role in feminist education, and major social campaigns such as marriage equality and abortion rights in Ireland. Ailbhe’s activism involves a lifelong commitment to fighting sexism, homophobia, and systemic inequality,” he added.

As co-director of the Together for Yes campaign, Ailbhe successfully led the 2018 repeal of the Eighth Amendment, legalising abortion in Ireland. She was awarded the Freedom of the City of Dublin in 2022. She continues to chair organisations such as Women’s Aid and Ballyfermot STAR Addiction Services, and serves on several boards including Age Action and Gay Community News.

Nora Twomey, Tomm Moore, and Paul Young, the founders of the award-winning Cartoon Saloon studio, were also recognised for their outstanding contribution to the animation industry in Ireland. All three received Honorary Fellow Awards from IADT.

Cartoon Saloon was founded in 1999 by Nora, Tomm and Paul, and is today located in Kilkenny. The studio produces shorts, feature films, and TV series, and its work has been nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globes, and has won numerous BAFTA and Emmy awards.

“They have built a studio whose commitment to original storytelling and the craft of hand-drawn animation has earned international recognition. In films such as ‘The Secret of Kells’, ‘Song of the Sea’ and ‘Wolfwalkers’, Irish folklore, the Irish landscape, and our artistic traditions, shape both the stories and their visual expression,” said David Smith, IADT’s President.

 

“Expressive line, rich colour, and intricate patterns give this work a visual language rooted in Ireland’s cultural heritage. Their cultural significance lies in making that heritage a living source of contemporary creativity, showing how stories grounded in Irish experience can speak to audiences around the world,” he added.

IADT’s annual conferral ceremony saw students graduate from the Institute’s wide range of innovative and pioneering courses, including filmmaking, immersive media production, design, animation, cyberpsychology, and business and digital technology.