Animation in Ireland

​​Irish animation is currently experiencing a renaissance, evidenced by a series of Oscar-nominated and winning films from Cartoon Saloon, such as The Secret of Kells (2009), Song of the Sea (2014), The Breadwinner (2017), and Wolfwalkers (2021)—as well as acclaimed animated shorts like Quest (1996) and Late Afternoon (2018). Despite this, academic research on Irish animation remains sparse.

​Tracing its roots back to 1910 with pioneering works like James Horgan’s Clock Tower, Irish animation has evolved significantly. The period between the 1950s and 1980s saw a surge in advertising and educational animation, which was further revolutionized in the 1980s and 1990s by Bluth Studio’s introduction of advanced technology and a commercial industry model. Since 2000, Irish animation has struck a balance between artistic expression and commercial success. It is rooted in Irish literature and heritage, serving as a medium for expressing national identity and collective memory, and has emerged as a vital form of national cinema. The industry’s expansion is supported by a host of studios across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, contributing to the distinctive characteristics and aesthetics that define Irish animation.

​This PhD project seeks to address the scholarly gap in the history and theory of Irish cinema with a focus on animation. We invite candidates to apply diverse approaches—cinematic, historical, cultural, contextual, industrial, or multidisciplinary—to develop a robust theoretical framework that will enrich the field.

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• A comprehensive and articulate personal statement
• Research proposal of 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• For VCRS Awards, Masters at 75%
• Completion of Masters at a level equivalent to commendation or distinction at Ulster
• Practice-based research experience and/or dissemination
• Experience using research methods or other approaches relevant to the subject domain
• Work experience relevant to the proposed project

The University offers the following levels of support:

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

​​Barton, R. (2017) Irish Cinema in the twenty-first century, Manchester: Manchester University Press.

​Burke, L. (2009) “Drawing Conclusions: Irish Animation and National Cinema”, Estudios Irlandeses: Journal of Irish Studies. No.4: 187-191.

​Conner, M. C., Grossman, J., and Palmer, R. B. (2022) Screening Contemporary Irish Fiction and Drama. New York: Springer International Publishing.

​Connolly, M. (2005) “Theorising Irish Animation:  Heritage, Enterprise and Critical Practice” in National Cinema and Beyond: Studies in Irish Film 2, edited by John Hill and Kevin Rockett. Dublin: Four Courts Press, pp. 79-89.

​Walsh, T. (2009) “Irish Animation and Radical Memory”, in Place and Memory in the New Ireland, edited by Britta Olinder and Werner Huber. Trier: Wissenschaftlicher Verlag Trier (WVT), pp. 57-66.

​Walsh, T. (2018) “Re-animating the Past: An Irish Animation History”, Nordic Irish Studies, 17(2), 133-150.