Eirtakon

What is Eirtakon?

Eirtakon is the largest and longest-running anime and manga convention in Ireland, held every year in Dublin City University by a dedicated committee put in place by the DCU Anime & Manga Society.

Read more about Eirtakon here.

Who are the committee?

The Eirtakon Committee are a dedicated group of volunteers, who spend the best part of the year planning and organising the next convention, as well as ensuring all goes to plan on the weekend.

See the current committee here.

When and where is the convention held?

Eirtakon is held ever year on the DCU campus in The Helix, generally in mid-November unless circumstances dictate otherwise.

See where we are located here.

When does the convention open and close?

Please check our weekend schedule for exact opening and closing times for each of the three days.

What should I wear to Eirtakon?

Either come in your preferred cosplay, or just come in casual wear.

Do bear in mind that it can get warm inside the convention, especially inside smaller rooms, so dress accordingly. Also bear in mind the unpredictable Irish weather, so having a raincoat as backup is always helpful!

Admission and Registration

Who can attend Eirtakon?

Eirtakon is an all-ages event, so everyone is welcome! However, children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

How much does it cost to attend?

All events on Friday are free to attend.
A day pass, which allows you to attend either Saturday or Sunday, costs €18.
A weekend pass, which allows you to attend both Saturday and Sunday, costs €25.

Adults accompanying children under the age of 12 are eligible for free entry.

How can I pre-register?

You can pre-register weekend passes up until a certain point on our pre-registration page. Pre-registration is the only way guarantee yourself an Eirtakon t-shirt.

Pre-registration can be done via PayPal, or via postal cheque. Please bear in mind postal pre-registrations may be subject to additional time restrictions.

Please note, pre-registration is not available for day passes.

Can I buy a pass at the door on the weekend itself?

Yes, of course :)

Do I need ID to get in?

A valid form of photographic ID is required on arrival at the convention if you require an 18+ pass. This pass will grant you entry to any 18+ events.

Valid ID is also required to attend the Pub Quiz on the Friday night. Bar staff may at their discretion ask for valid ID.

Location and Accommodation

How do I get to Eirtakon?

See our Location page for directions on how to get to Eirtakon.

Is there car parking available?

Yes, there is a multi-storey car park available on the DCU campus right outside of the Helix. Enter the campus from the Collins Avenue entrance to access it. Car parking rates can be found on the DCU website.

Where can I stay?

Unfortunately, Eirtakon does not feature on-site accommodation as the convention takes place during college term, and the on-campus residences are inhabited.

We have compiled a list of nearby hotels, B&B's, hostels and guest houses here.

Cosplay

What is cosplay?

Cosplay , short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and Sci-Fi. Favourite sources include manga, anime, tokusatsu, comic books, graphic novels, video games, hentai and fantasy movies.

Do I have to cosplay to attend?

No, cosplaying is completely optional. However, there are a few cosplay-related events which do require you to be cosplaying in order to take part.

Is a cosplay of X allowed?

Any form of cosplay is allowed; provided the subject matter is PG-13, and does not imitate any real military unit that has existed since 1900.

Can I bring X as part of my cosplay?

Props and weapons are permitted within reason. If you have any doubt as to whether a particular prop or weapon is admissible, please contact the Admissions Officer.

Props and weapons that are not permitted include:

• Edged or bladed weaponry
• Metal weaponry
• Heavy weapory

Airsoft weaponry is only permitted if the magazine/clip is removed, the chamber is cleared, the weapon is unable to fire (whether by removing the battery, or by de-gassing), and the orange tip is present.
Spring-loaded airsoft weaponry is not permitted.

Signs of any form are not permitted unless they are considered an established part of a costume (e.g. the sign carried carried by Genma the panda).

Media

Will I be photographed or recorded if I attend?

Several dedicated members of the Eirtakon staff will be taking general photos over the weekend for media and other promotional purposes. However, no specific photos will be taken of anyone without their permission.

I am a photographer, can I take photos during the weekend?

Yea, you may take photos of the convention over the weekend, however we would ask that if you are taking specific shots of anyone to please get their permission first.

We would also appreciate it if you could send us a link to your work taken over the weekend.

I am a blogger/journalist/reporter, can I come to cover the convention?

Please get in touch with our Public Relations Officer to discuss this in more detail.