Our Team
Meet the team behind the festival
Maurice
Festival Director & Co-Founder
Maurice Galway is the Festival Director and co-founder of Animation Dingle. Maurice has over 30 years of festival experience and he brings this each year to Animation Dingle. As a festival director, programmer, exhibitor and as an artist and filmmaker himself, Maurice has a deep understanding of what works, what needs to be seen, what audiences want to see, how to exhibit that and, ultimately, what is good!
Maurice has presented Irish Animation at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Toronto Irish Film Festival & Soho House Festival.
In recognition of his work, Maurice was presented with an Ambassador Award by Fáilte Ireland; Gregory Peck’s family presented him with The Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in The Art of Film and he is the recipient of The Founding Kerry Ambassador Award.
As a visual artist & filmmaker, his feature film documentary Pauline Bewick: Yellow Man Grey Man screened on RTÉ & Sky Arts. His short films have been exhibited in Ireland, London, New York & China.
He is also the founder of Dingle Film Walks: Follow in the footsteps of iconic Hollywood filmmakers on the Dingle Peninsula.
Maurice also founded Kerry Film Festival and Dingle International Film Festival.
maurice[a]animationdingle.com
Cath
Guest Coordinator & Festival Administrator
Cath Galway has been welcoming guests for over 30 years – be that at festivals or within her own capacity as owner of Welcome Home Retreats. She has been involved with Festivals since 1992 and currently works part-time with Animation Dingle as Guest Coordinator/Festival Administrator.
Cath also works for Kerry ETB as Coordinator of the Mentor Project which supports young people in their progression – this compliments her work with volunteers and students at the heart of the Animation Dingle Festivals.
And last, but not least, Cath is also owner and founder of Welcome Home Retreats, she is a qualified Breathwork Teacher and in these capacities Cath organises Wellness Add On activities for Festival Guests at Animation Dingle.
Cath puts welcoming and taking care of others at the forefront of all she does; she works hard to ensure that everyone at the Festival feels included and welcome.
cath[a]animationdingle.com
Amy Louise
Festival Co-Ordinator
Amy Louise is a film programmer and author-illustrator. She previously worked at the Irish Film Institute on its annual Schools programme, before leaving to join Animation Dingle as Festival Co-Ordinator and Kerry International Film Festival as the Festival Programming Director.
She is a board member of Fresh Film, serving as Chair of the Board since 2023, and her debut picture book A Cork Fairytale was published in May 2024 by The O’Brien Press.
When she’s not working on film festivals, Amy Louise is drawing. She’s currently working on her next book, to be published in 2027.
amy[a]animationdingle.com
Miguel
Art Director
Miguel Filho is an interdisciplinary Art Director based in Dublin.
With over a decade of experience in the design industry, Miguel has worked across a broad range of mediums – from traditional print and web to children’s television production and interactive applications.
He played a key role in shaping the unique character of the Animation Dingle festival, a project he remains especially proud of. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with talented teams and leading companies including BBC, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime, Microsoft, JAM Media and Liberty Mutual.
Natasha
Social Media Coordinator
Natasha is a storyteller at heart, with a passion for crafting compelling narratives across animation, live-action, and digital platforms.
Currently in her final year of the BA (Hons) in Animation, Visual Effects & Motion Design at MTU, Natasha has been part of Animation Dingle for the past three years. As Social Media Coordinator, she helped shape the festival’s voice online, bringing its energy and creativity to life across every platform.
With experience spanning directing, writing, content creation, and digital marketing, Natasha’s work includes the SMEDIA-nominated documentary Beyond the Rails, the founding of MTU’s Film Society, and the direction of two short films in the past year.
Whether developing a new concept, crafting dialogue, or building a brand’s story, Natasha brings a creative vision rooted in their love of storytelling and a drive to pursue a career in directing and producing for screen.
natasha[a]animationdingle.com
Sinéad
Communications and Business Development Manager
Sinéad Smith is a seasoned communications, marketing, and business development professional with over 15 years’ experience spanning public service, culture, tourism, and international trade. She has held roles in leading organisations including Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Tate Britain, UCC, and the Museum of Literature Ireland.
Sinéad has led high-impact communications campaigns, corporate partnerships, and trade missions across Europe, the US, Asia, and the Middle East, representing Irish enterprise and culture on the global stage. Her expertise includes strategic communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement, and brand development – often working at Ministerial and government agency level.
Currently consulting with Animation Dingle, Sinéad is recognised for her collaborative approach, strong industry networks, and ability to deliver high-impact strategies. She holds a BA from University College Cork and a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship from Trinity College Dublin.
sinead[a]animationdingle.com
The Minds Behind The Madness!
Festival Director & Co-Founder
Maurice Galway is the Festival Director and co-founder of Animation Dingle. Maurice has over 30 years of festival experience and he brings this each year to Animation Dingle. As a festival director, programmer, exhibitor and as an artist and filmmaker himself, Maurice has a deep understanding of what works, what needs to be seen, what audiences want to see, how to exhibit that and, ultimately, what is good!
Maurice has presented Irish Animation at Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Toronto Irish Film Festival & Soho House Festival.
In recognition of his work, Maurice was presented with an Ambassador Award by Fáilte Ireland; Gregory Peck’s family presented him with The Gregory Peck Award for Excellence in The Art of Film and he is the recipient of The Founding Kerry Ambassador Award.
As a visual artist & filmmaker, his feature film documentary Pauline Bewick: Yellow Man Grey Man screened on RTÉ & Sky Arts. His short films have been exhibited in Ireland, London, New York & China.
He is also the founder of Dingle Film Walks: Follow in the footsteps of iconic Hollywood filmmakers on the Dingle Peninsula.
Maurice also founded Kerry Film Festival and Dingle International Film Festival.
Guest Coordinator & Festival Administrator
Cath Galway has been welcoming guests for over 30 years – be that at festivals or within her own capacity as owner of Welcome Home Retreats. She has been involved with Festivals since 1992 and currently works part-time with Animation Dingle as Guest Coordinator/Festival Administrator.
Cath also works for Kerry ETB as Coordinator of the Mentor Project which supports young people in their progression – this compliments her work with volunteers and students at the heart of the Animation Dingle Festivals.
And last, but not least, Cath is also owner and founder of Welcome Home Retreats, she is a qualified Breathwork Teacher and in these capacities Cath organises Wellness Add On activities for Festival Guests at Animation Dingle.
Cath puts welcoming and taking care of others at the forefront of all she does; she works hard to ensure that everyone at the Festival feels included and welcome.
Festival Coordinator
Amy Louise is a festival practitioner, film programmer and illustrator. She has spent the last few years working in the Irish Film Institute on its annual Schools programme, delivering an extensive selection of Irish and international films to young people nationwide, before leaving to join Kerry International Film Festival as the Festival Programming Director, leading on delivery of the festival programme ahead of its 25th anniversary. She is a board member of Fresh Film, serving as Chair of the Board since 2023, and her debut picture book A Cork Fairytale was published in May 2024 by The O’Brien Press.
Art Director
Miguel Filho is an interdisciplinary Art Director based in Dublin.
With over a decade of experience in the design industry, Miguel has worked across a broad range of mediums – from traditional print and web to children’s television production and interactive applications.
He played a key role in shaping the unique character of the Animation Dingle festival, a project he remains especially proud of. Throughout his career, he has collaborated with talented teams and leading companies including BBC, Nickelodeon, Amazon Prime, Microsoft, JAM Media and Liberty Mutual.
Social Media Coordinator
Natasha is a storyteller at heart, with a passion for crafting compelling narratives across animation, live-action, and digital platforms.
Currently in her final year of the BA (Hons) in Animation, Visual Effects & Motion Design at MTU, Natasha has been part of Animation Dingle for the past three years. As Social Media Coordinator, she helped shape the festival’s voice online, bringing its energy and creativity to life across every platform.
With experience spanning directing, writing, content creation, and digital marketing, Natasha’s work includes the SMEDIA-nominated documentary Beyond the Rails, the founding of MTU’s Film Society, and the direction of two short films in the past year.
Whether developing a new concept, crafting dialogue, or building a brand’s story, Natasha brings a creative vision rooted in their love of storytelling and a drive to pursue a career in directing and producing for screen.
Communications, Marketing & Business Development Consultant
Sinéad Smith is a seasoned communications, marketing, and business development professional with over 15 years’ experience spanning public service, culture, tourism, and international trade. She has held roles in leading organisations including Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland, Tate Britain, UCC, and the Museum of Literature Ireland.
Sinéad has led high-impact communications campaigns, corporate partnerships, and trade missions across Europe, the US, Asia, and the Middle East, representing Irish enterprise and culture on the global stage. Her expertise includes strategic communications, public relations, stakeholder engagement, and brand development – often working at Ministerial and government agency level.
Currently consulting with Animation Dingle, Sinéad is recognised for her collaborative approach, strong industry networks, and ability to deliver high-impact strategies. She holds a BA from University College Cork and a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative & Cultural Entrepreneurship from Trinity College Dublin.
Volunteers
Animation Dingle cannot run without the enormous support we get every year from our team of Festival Volunteers and Volunteer Selectors.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer at Animation Dingle 2027, click the button below for further updates.
