Eirtakon Committee 2012
Behind the running of Eirtakon is the dedicated volunteer committee, who spend the best part of the year planning and organising the next Eirtakon; as well as ensuring all goes to plan on the weekend. Listed here are the committee for Eirtakon 2012.
Shannan has been a part of the Eirtakon and AMS committees since her first year in DCU. She has risen through the ranks and was delighted to be voted in as this years Eirtakon Director.
As Director she is responsible for keeping an eye on all things Eirtakon related and making sure everything's running smoothly. At the con - if she has a moment to spare - you're most likely to see her fangirling over plushies in the traders hall.
Outside Eirtakon she is a student nurse, loves to play music and has too many cats.
Favourite Anime: Ouran Highschool Host Club
Favourite Manga: Azumanga Daioh
Favourite Game: Oblivion
Favourite Thing about Japan: Geisha style
This year will be Conor's fourth Eirtakon and second as committee. He can usually be found in or around the gaming areas occasionally challenging random attendees to Pokémon battles.
Not one to sit around though he will wander about the convention looking for the most creative and unusual cosplays.
Outside of the convention, Conor is actively involved in the gaming and anime scene, and also has an interest in archery - although, to date he has yet to shoot anyone in the knee.
Favourite Anime: A Certain Scientific Railgun
Favourite Manga: .Hack// series
Favourite Game: Mabinogi / Deus Ex series
Favourite Thing about Japan: All the unusual games and products they come up with.
Kenny has been a part of the Eirtakon and AMS committees since his second year in DCU, and has been the Treasurer and Co-Director for the last two years. He is the man with the enviable right to spend Eirtakon's money.
You usually see him running everywhere during Eirtakon keeping an eye on everything and helping where needs be as he can't stay in one place for long. Friendly and helpful but a quiet fellow, people describe him as a "nice guy".
Outside the world of anime and manga, Kenny is a computing student, who loves to juggle and yo-yo. Spends most of his nights either sleeping or gaming/watching anime - he just can't get away from what he loves.
Favourite Anime: Great Teacher Onizuka
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Monster Hunter Series, Catherine
Favourite Thing about Japan: They make the prettiest things, technology
Mark can generally be found pottering around with a coffee in his hand, trying his best to avoid any work - after all, as one of the PR people, the fact that you're at the convention means he's done his job. He's been chained to the PR desk for the past 6 years, mostly against his will, and shows no sign of being let go anytime soon.
Outside of Eirtakon, Mark is involved in a myriad of other endeavours - some savoury, others salty - that are occasionally chronicled on his website.
Favourite Anime: Great Teacher Onizuka
Favourite Manga: Bezerk
Favourite Game: Monkey Island II
Favourite Thing about Japan: The incredibubble transport network!
After volunteering for 2 years and spending one year as registrations assistant, Terry is now the PR Officer. While that’s supposed to mean writing press releases, keeping in contact with other cons and doing other assorted PR-related tasks, instead she’s usually found giggling over silly internet pictures and bullying Shannan, our director.
At Eirtakon she’s usually hanging around reg or laughing very loudly. She’ll talk to anyone about anything, but considering she knows next to nothing about anime or manga, the conversation will probably fall to her live-action addiction or her various poultry.
Outside of Eirtakon you can find her drinking piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. Or more likely with her head stuck in a book.
Favourite Anime: Adventure Time
Favourite Manga: Goong (manwha)
Favourite Game: Kingdom Hearts
Favourite Thing about Japan: Sake
If you've ever engaged with Eirtakon on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, deviantART or any website like that, generally this has been the man behind it. You won't ever find him without a phone, tablet or camera in his hand, and a laptop nearby.
He's fairly adept at running social media accounts, considering he has successful campaigns including his gaming persona, a teddy bear, and the family dog.
When not spending every waking moment on social media, he spends all his time gaming and making videos for YouTube.
Favourite Anime: Don't watch enough to be able to answer that
Favourite Manga: Pokémon Adventures
Favourite Game: Team Fortress 2
Favourite Thing about Japan: Food
Gaëlle has been in love with anime since she was teeny-tiny and watched it on French TV with adorable pigtails*. At this stage she is referred to as DCU Anime and Manga Society's dinosaur and/or fossil as she attended since she first began studying in DCU many years ago. As the name might suggest, as the Trade Liaison she is in charge of inviting the traders present at the convention and ensuring the trade hall runs as smoothly as possible throughout the weekend.
When not watching anime, she reads novel, draws, paints, eats cheese, occasionally does some yoga and wishes she could play some sort of instrument... which she can't... not even the triangle. If you are bored, she has a tumblr.
(*Pigtails may be fictional)
Favourite Anime: Sailor Moon
Favourite Manga: xxxHolic
Favourite Game: Harvest Moon
Favourite Thing about Japan: The petticoats...
Ken has dedicated far too much time to this convention, and was finally promoted to committee in 2010 to manage all things art.
This seems to have not been a mistake, having manage to arrange Eirtakon's largest and probably most successful Artists' Alley last year - so this year, he thought he'd give it another try.
Ken writes a lot of comics in his spare time and is extremely bitter about everything else. That includes having to write this blurb.
Favourite Anime: Berserk
Favourite Manga: Berserk
Favourite Video Game: Dark Chronicle
Favourite Thing about Japan: Berserk
Getting to hang out with some of the best voice actors, artists and cosplayers is all in days job for Damien. Having joined the Eirtakon volunteer team 5 years ago, Damien has quickly moved to being Games Coordinator for 2 and this will be his third year as Guest liaison. Much of his year is spent trying to organise different guests to attend Eirtakon. Thanks to its growth and popularity we can get bigger and more guests year on year.
Not a fan of the suit, sunglasses and ear pieces style bodyguard he will be seen primarily at the guests side through out the weekend and will be the one you have to talk to about having a chat with our guests.
Outside the con he likes the outdoors and will often be seen in a kayak on a whitewater river or riding a mountain bike down a dirt trail.
Favourite Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (Golden Boy for those of you over 18)
Favourite Manga: Air Gear
Favourite Game: Half-Life Series
Favourite Thing about Japan: Sushi
No longer the blur of continual motion of the past, the man whom likely none of you shall recognise nor need to recognise but for years kept the gears of war at Eirtakon perfectly oiled and turning sequentially on time.
A man of many idiosyncrasies, such as a need to spread things with a spoon, and a fondness for jam on potato waffles; He's a veteran of Eirtakon having worked his way up from his beginnings as a volunteer, through an assistant committee member position to his current long standing position as a committee member.
He's Eirtakon's first ever Information Coordinator and will be available all weekend at the info. desk to answer any and all event or general Eirtakon queries.
Favourite Anime: Pani Poni Dash
Favourite Manga: Gantz
Favourite Game: Oddworld: Abe's Exodus
Favourite Thing about Japan: Martial Arts
Rana loves logistics. So much so, he even has access to a van which may or may not have been "borrowed" from UPS.
Having overthrown the previous Volunteer Manager, now the volunteers have a Queen! Not dark, but beautiful and terrible as the dawn! Treacherous as the sea! Stronger than the foundations of the earth! All shall love her, and despair!
Actually, no. Rose is really quite nice, we promise! She has been involved with Eirtakon since 2007 and is having far too much fun to want to leave. She runs the fabulous team of wonderful Eirtakon Green Shirts and makes sure that events and desks at the con have folks working at them so they run smoothly.
Outside of Eirtakon, Rose searches for pictures of kittens on the internet and plots to steal red pandas from zoos.
Favourite Anime: Katanagatari
Favourite Manga: ... next question please...
Favourite Game: Might and Magic 6
Favourite Thing about Japan: Food
Amy has been one of the Cosplay and Fashion Coordinators since 2006 and is still going strong. You would find her knocking around in her cosplay being cheerful and helping out her partner in crime Fiona on the stage during the skits and judging the Cosplay Masquarade for the EuroCosplay.
Amy is an extremely passionate cosplayer who enjoys what she does and offers advice to individuals who have an interest in cosplay and is glad to help any lost attendee. Amy also organises the Japanese fashion show.
Due to her cosplay passion she became one of the founding members of Cosplay Ireland in promoting and educating individuals via workshops and panels and works closely with other conventions as a consultant and is involved with the Experience Japan Festival.
Favourite Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Favourite Manga: Chobits
Favourite Game: The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
Favourite Thing about Japan: Manners and class!
Fiona is the second Cosplay and Fashion Coordinator alongside the lovely Amy! She enjoys choosing cosplays that have the most uncomfortable shoes known to man and then spending the Eirtakon weekend leaning on banisters and friendly con goers to take the weight off her feet.
You'll find her hosting the masquerade and helping Eirtaku find love at Cosplay Blind Date. She also helps Amy to promote Cosplay Ireland and spread a love of cosplay throughout the country!
Fiona spends all her money on material, wigs, tattoos and cat food for her kittens Finn and Jake. Oh and if you're a Grell Sutcliff cosplayer, watch out, she will come after you.
Favourite Anime: Cowboy Bebop
Favourite Manga: Ikki Tousen
Favourite Game: Okami
Favourite Thing about Japan: Masanobu Ando
Ross was a clear choice for third replacement anime officer for his most sought-after feature of having founded Eirtakon.
His luscious curly locks and debonair ways have brought some well needed class to the Eirtakon committee, while his hard work has brought some well needed anime to the convention itself.
Outside of Eirtakon, Ross is a software developer with Engine Yard, and helps organize Pub Standards, a popular tech meetup in Dublin.
Favourite Anime: Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Favourite Manga: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Favourite Game: Final Fantasy VII
Favourite Thing about Japan: Sashimi
As Video Games Coordinator, you'll most likely find her holed up in the inevitably roasting Games Room, attempting to keep everyone from the casual gamers to the hardcore competitors happy. She's been involved with the Irish Fighting Games community for years so has plenty of experience running tournaments. However, this is her first year on the Eirtakon Committee so take it easy on her!
Aside from coming up with new and exciting events for this year's Games Room, she can usually be found re-arranging her ever expanding figure collection, catching up on the current season's anime or practicing her Japanese on anyone who'll listen. If you manage to find her a real red panda, she'll love you forever!
Favourite Anime: Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Favourite Manga: Sailor Moon
Favourite Game: Rock Band
Favourite Thing about Japan: EVERYTHING!
Now this is the story all about how
My life got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became the Party Games Coordinator doing Eirtafair
In west Monaghan born and raised
On the fields where I spent most of my days
Farming out, nerding out, relaxing all cool
And all watching some anime on the new broadband
When a couple of guys, they were up to no good
Started making trouble in my forums hood
I got in one troll fight and the nastiness was about to ensue
And i thought "Nah forget it, on down to DCU"
I whistled for a tractor and when it came near the
trailer plate said "live animal" and had a pine fresh in the mirror
If anything I could say that this veh-i-cle was rare
But I thought nah, forget it, yo homes to Eirtafair
Favourite Anime: Cowboy Bebop
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Super Mario 64
Favourite Thing about Japan: All the awesome anime shows
You'll find him around the Front Desk drinking coffee to keep him awake. When he's not running the Front Desk, he tends to wander into the Trade Hall to buy things with money he doesn't have. You might also see him during the Pub Quiz with his team of correctors tallying the points.
He's one of the few committee members who wears a yellow T-shirt, to which attendees can voice their concerns and he's always glad to help... or in some cases deal with potential security or safety concerns.
In his non-Eirtakon life he runs a martial arts website, loves cats, and would kill anyone for cheese.
Favourite Anime: Trigun
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Tekken series
Favourite Thing about Japan: The martial culture
Drafted at the last minute for the first Eirtakon, Seán first stepped into the committee landscape when he - perhaps foolishly - volunteered to be director for Eirtakon's second year, a convention that had to be experienced to be believed.
Since then he has tried his hand in many roles ranging from staff, to treasurer and even tried to direct again at Eirtakon in 2011. This year he is taking a step back and keeping a watchful eye on the preregistration.
Outside of Eirtakon, Seán spends most of his time working and spending all his money on art, gadgets, games, movies, albums, books, comics, toys and whatever else he can get his hands on. He's also a pretty fine baker.
Favourite Anime: Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Deus Ex
Favourite Thing about Japan: The food
Members of the Attendee Liaison group are easily noticeable by the bright yellow t-shirts they wear instead of the standard committee red. If you have any issues, don't hesitate to find one of the members to speak to. All members of the group have radios, so if you cannot find a member of the group, simply ask any other member of the committee and they will locate the nearest person.
The Attendee Liaison group for 2012 includes Convention Director Shannan, Volunteer Manager Rose, Admissions Officer Ashwin, and Registrations Officer Seán.
Convention Director - Shannan Walsh
As Director she is responsible for keeping an eye on all things Eirtakon related and making sure everything's running smoothly. At the con - if she has a moment to spare - you're most likely to see her fangirling over plushies in the traders hall.
Outside Eirtakon she is a student nurse, loves to play music and has too many cats.
Favourite Anime: Ouran Highschool Host Club
Favourite Manga: Azumanga Daioh
Favourite Game: Oblivion
Favourite Thing about Japan: Geisha style
Co-Director - Conor Parks
Not one to sit around though he will wander about the convention looking for the most creative and unusual cosplays.
Outside of the convention, Conor is actively involved in the gaming and anime scene, and also has an interest in archery - although, to date he has yet to shoot anyone in the knee.
Favourite Anime: A Certain Scientific Railgun
Favourite Manga: .Hack// series
Favourite Game: Mabinogi / Deus Ex series
Favourite Thing about Japan: All the unusual games and products they come up with.
Co-Director & Treasurer - Kenny Tang
You usually see him running everywhere during Eirtakon keeping an eye on everything and helping where needs be as he can't stay in one place for long. Friendly and helpful but a quiet fellow, people describe him as a "nice guy".
Outside the world of anime and manga, Kenny is a computing student, who loves to juggle and yo-yo. Spends most of his nights either sleeping or gaming/watching anime - he just can't get away from what he loves.
Favourite Anime: Great Teacher Onizuka
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Monster Hunter Series, Catherine
Favourite Thing about Japan: They make the prettiest things, technology
Public Relations Director - Mark Murphy
Outside of Eirtakon, Mark is involved in a myriad of other endeavours - some savoury, others salty - that are occasionally chronicled on his website.
Favourite Anime: Great Teacher Onizuka
Favourite Manga: Bezerk
Favourite Game: Monkey Island II
Favourite Thing about Japan: The incredibubble transport network!
Public Relations Officer - Terry Rushe
At Eirtakon she’s usually hanging around reg or laughing very loudly. She’ll talk to anyone about anything, but considering she knows next to nothing about anime or manga, the conversation will probably fall to her live-action addiction or her various poultry.
Outside of Eirtakon you can find her drinking piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. Or more likely with her head stuck in a book.
Favourite Anime: Adventure Time
Favourite Manga: Goong (manwha)
Favourite Game: Kingdom Hearts
Favourite Thing about Japan: Sake
Social Media Officer - Chris Daly
He's fairly adept at running social media accounts, considering he has successful campaigns including his gaming persona, a teddy bear, and the family dog.
When not spending every waking moment on social media, he spends all his time gaming and making videos for YouTube.
Favourite Anime: Don't watch enough to be able to answer that
Favourite Manga: Pokémon Adventures
Favourite Game: Team Fortress 2
Favourite Thing about Japan: Food
Trade Liaison - Gaëlle Izabelle
When not watching anime, she reads novel, draws, paints, eats cheese, occasionally does some yoga and wishes she could play some sort of instrument... which she can't... not even the triangle. If you are bored, she has a tumblr.
(*Pigtails may be fictional)
Favourite Anime: Sailor Moon
Favourite Manga: xxxHolic
Favourite Game: Harvest Moon
Favourite Thing about Japan: The petticoats...
Artists' Liaison - Ken Mahon
This seems to have not been a mistake, having manage to arrange Eirtakon's largest and probably most successful Artists' Alley last year - so this year, he thought he'd give it another try.
Ken writes a lot of comics in his spare time and is extremely bitter about everything else. That includes having to write this blurb.
Favourite Anime: Berserk
Favourite Manga: Berserk
Favourite Video Game: Dark Chronicle
Favourite Thing about Japan: Berserk
Guest Liaison - Damien Byrne
Not a fan of the suit, sunglasses and ear pieces style bodyguard he will be seen primarily at the guests side through out the weekend and will be the one you have to talk to about having a chat with our guests.
Outside the con he likes the outdoors and will often be seen in a kayak on a whitewater river or riding a mountain bike down a dirt trail.
Favourite Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (Golden Boy for those of you over 18)
Favourite Manga: Air Gear
Favourite Game: Half-Life Series
Favourite Thing about Japan: Sushi
Information Coordinator - Phil Daly
A man of many idiosyncrasies, such as a need to spread things with a spoon, and a fondness for jam on potato waffles; He's a veteran of Eirtakon having worked his way up from his beginnings as a volunteer, through an assistant committee member position to his current long standing position as a committee member.
He's Eirtakon's first ever Information Coordinator and will be available all weekend at the info. desk to answer any and all event or general Eirtakon queries.
Favourite Anime: Pani Poni Dash
Favourite Manga: Gantz
Favourite Game: Oddworld: Abe's Exodus
Favourite Thing about Japan: Martial Arts
Logistics Officer - Rana Mukherji
Volunteer Manager - Rose Farrell
Actually, no. Rose is really quite nice, we promise! She has been involved with Eirtakon since 2007 and is having far too much fun to want to leave. She runs the fabulous team of wonderful Eirtakon Green Shirts and makes sure that events and desks at the con have folks working at them so they run smoothly.
Outside of Eirtakon, Rose searches for pictures of kittens on the internet and plots to steal red pandas from zoos.
Favourite Anime: Katanagatari
Favourite Manga: ... next question please...
Favourite Game: Might and Magic 6
Favourite Thing about Japan: Food
Cosplay and Fashion Coordinator - Amy King
Amy is an extremely passionate cosplayer who enjoys what she does and offers advice to individuals who have an interest in cosplay and is glad to help any lost attendee. Amy also organises the Japanese fashion show.
Due to her cosplay passion she became one of the founding members of Cosplay Ireland in promoting and educating individuals via workshops and panels and works closely with other conventions as a consultant and is involved with the Experience Japan Festival.
Favourite Anime: Neon Genesis Evangelion
Favourite Manga: Chobits
Favourite Game: The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time
Favourite Thing about Japan: Manners and class!
Cosplay and Fashion Coordinator - Fiona O'Reilly
You'll find her hosting the masquerade and helping Eirtaku find love at Cosplay Blind Date. She also helps Amy to promote Cosplay Ireland and spread a love of cosplay throughout the country!
Fiona spends all her money on material, wigs, tattoos and cat food for her kittens Finn and Jake. Oh and if you're a Grell Sutcliff cosplayer, watch out, she will come after you.
Favourite Anime: Cowboy Bebop
Favourite Manga: Ikki Tousen
Favourite Game: Okami
Favourite Thing about Japan: Masanobu Ando
Anime Coordinator - Ross Duggan
His luscious curly locks and debonair ways have brought some well needed class to the Eirtakon committee, while his hard work has brought some well needed anime to the convention itself.
Outside of Eirtakon, Ross is a software developer with Engine Yard, and helps organize Pub Standards, a popular tech meetup in Dublin.
Favourite Anime: Legend of the Galactic Heroes
Favourite Manga: Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind
Favourite Game: Final Fantasy VII
Favourite Thing about Japan: Sashimi
Video Games Coordinator - Sinéad Cawley
Aside from coming up with new and exciting events for this year's Games Room, she can usually be found re-arranging her ever expanding figure collection, catching up on the current season's anime or practicing her Japanese on anyone who'll listen. If you manage to find her a real red panda, she'll love you forever!
Favourite Anime: Puella Magi Madoka Magica
Favourite Manga: Sailor Moon
Favourite Game: Rock Band
Favourite Thing about Japan: EVERYTHING!
Party Games Coordinator - Katie Connolly
My life got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became the Party Games Coordinator doing Eirtafair
In west Monaghan born and raised
On the fields where I spent most of my days
Farming out, nerding out, relaxing all cool
And all watching some anime on the new broadband
When a couple of guys, they were up to no good
Started making trouble in my forums hood
I got in one troll fight and the nastiness was about to ensue
And i thought "Nah forget it, on down to DCU"
I whistled for a tractor and when it came near the
trailer plate said "live animal" and had a pine fresh in the mirror
If anything I could say that this veh-i-cle was rare
But I thought nah, forget it, yo homes to Eirtafair
Favourite Anime: Cowboy Bebop
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Super Mario 64
Favourite Thing about Japan: All the awesome anime shows
Panels Coordinator - Kenny Wong
Admissions Officer - Ashwin Kesso
He's one of the few committee members who wears a yellow T-shirt, to which attendees can voice their concerns and he's always glad to help... or in some cases deal with potential security or safety concerns.
In his non-Eirtakon life he runs a martial arts website, loves cats, and would kill anyone for cheese.
Favourite Anime: Trigun
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Tekken series
Favourite Thing about Japan: The martial culture
Admissions Officer - Nessa O'Hara
Registrations Officer & Associate - Seán Hand
Since then he has tried his hand in many roles ranging from staff, to treasurer and even tried to direct again at Eirtakon in 2011. This year he is taking a step back and keeping a watchful eye on the preregistration.
Outside of Eirtakon, Seán spends most of his time working and spending all his money on art, gadgets, games, movies, albums, books, comics, toys and whatever else he can get his hands on. He's also a pretty fine baker.
Favourite Anime: Giant Robo: The Day the Earth Stood Still
Favourite Manga: One Piece
Favourite Game: Deus Ex
Favourite Thing about Japan: The food
Associate - Stephen Fox
Attendee Liaison Group
Every year, several members of the committee volunteer themselves for the additional role of Attendee Liaison. Specifically, the Attendee Liaison group handles all problems, queries, and complaints from attendees before, during, and after the convention weekend.Members of the Attendee Liaison group are easily noticeable by the bright yellow t-shirts they wear instead of the standard committee red. If you have any issues, don't hesitate to find one of the members to speak to. All members of the group have radios, so if you cannot find a member of the group, simply ask any other member of the committee and they will locate the nearest person.
The Attendee Liaison group for 2012 includes Convention Director Shannan, Volunteer Manager Rose, Admissions Officer Ashwin, and Registrations Officer Seán.