User:TheChrisD/Eirtakon

Eirtakon is an annual three-day anime convention held in Dublin, Ireland. The convention began in 2005 and is the first anime convention in Ireland. Eirtakon 2009 was the most successful convention to date, with almost a thousand people attending over the three days.

The event is run every year in conjunction with DCU's Anime & Manga Society.

Name
The name Eirtakon is derived from the word Eirtaku, meaning Irish otaku. Eirtakon's founders John Doyle and Ross Duggan married the subculture phrase Eirtaku with the American anime convention style naming scheme (e.g. Otakon), resulting in Eirtakon.

Mascot
Eirtakon's official mascot is Lori, a green-haired girl designed by artist Swissy. She has undergone a continual evolution since the first Eirtakon in 2005 and is the subject of many fan drawings which often cover the venue.

Event Hosting
For the past five years, the convention has been held in the main hall of The Hub, DCU, as well as recently expanding to ancillary buildings nearby. Traders of anime, manga, games, and related merchandise, as well as budding artists and animators have stalls at Eirtakon each year, and are one of the main driving forces behind the convention's popularity.

2010's event will be held in The Helix, one of the largest purpose-built convention spaces in the country.

Clubs & Societies Award
On the 31st March 2010, Eirtakon 2009 won the Best Society Event award during the annual Dublin City University Clubs & Socities awards, and represented DCU in the Best Event category at the Board of Irish College Societies national awards that year.