Making it Work
The innovative enterprise is on a mission to establish a pre-school children’s entertainment brand by revitalizing the enchanting tale of the leprechaun.
Carlichauns Entertainment, a dynamic animation studio based in Louth, is poised to finalize a funding round of €750,000 before the year concludes, which will fuel its ambitious growth plans.
Founded in 2023 in the picturesque coastal town of Carlingford, Carlichauns was created by a team of passionate entrepreneurs: Niall Watters, Kevin Woods, Tim Patterson, Stephen Woods, and Eoin McCormack. Currently, the company is staffed by two full-time employees, and the co-founders have personally injected €200,000 into the venture thus far to kickstart their vision.
“We’re building a pre-school kids entertainment brand by modernizing an element of Irish folklore, the leprechaun. We’re giving it a contemporary facelift to share the story of the Carlingford leprechauns, known as the Carlichauns, with audiences all around the globe,” revealed Watters in an interview with the Business Post.
Company Details
Carlichauns Entertainment
Founded by: Niall Watters, Kevin Woods, Tim Patterson, Stephen Woods, and Eoin McCormack in 2023
Staff: 2
Investment: €200,000 by the founders
“We’re taking an omni-channel approach. Our core offering will be animation content for television and YouTube. In addition, we will offer supplemental products, including an augmented reality app, digital books, and interactive games. Our goal is to engage kids where they naturally consume their content.”
The concept originated with Kevin Woods, who has spent over thirty years recounting the fascinating tales of the Carlingford leprechauns. His storytelling career includes publishing beloved children’s books, making numerous appearances on international media platforms, and operating a folklore park in the heart of Carlingford.
“Two years ago, Stephen Woods and I recognized a larger opportunity in this realm. We shared our concept with Kevin, followed by discussions with Tim Patterson, the former commissioner for Nickelodeon, and Eoin McCormack, the former chief executive of Musgrave Retail Group,” Watters explained.
“Basically, the whole lot of us convened and laid out a strategic plan to propel the venture forward.”
The company has already conducted successful field tests for its augmented reality app, which was trialed earlier this year to measure user interest.
“We launched the Carlichauns adventure trail across five locations in Ireland around St Patrick’s Day. That initiative proved to be a phenomenal success, drawing over 2,500 users and elevating the app to the top of the App Store in Ireland, attracting participants from more than 21 different nationalities,” Watters said, emphasizing the community engagement.
“Participants discovered digital representations of the leprechauns at various locations and brought them to life within the app, enabling interactive experiences.”
Carlichauns is proudly backed by Enterprise Ireland and holds a special position within the high potential start-up unit (HPSU), allowing it to leverage important resources.
“The entire support package they offer is invaluable, from collaborating with their research teams to accessing their market advisors in North America and beyond,” Watters noted, highlighting the strategic partnership.
“Wherever we focus on international business expansion, they provide us with crucial insights into market trends and connect us with potential partners. Their collaborative approach is instrumental as we aim to scale globally, with Enterprise Ireland’s extensive network serving as a significant advantage.”
The business anticipates commencing work on the inaugural season of its animated series in the upcoming new year.
“For us, the most essential factor is executing our vision correctly. We are currently in advanced discussions with prospective production partners and aim to have the first season completed within the next 12 to 18 months,” Watters elaborated.
“Achieving significant success in this industry largely hinges on effective licensing and merchandising strategies. Once we fine-tune our content offerings, we can explore those opportunities in greater depth. We are already in dialogue with several of the industry’s largest stakeholders on this front.”
**Interview with Niall Watters, Co-founder of Carlichauns Entertainment**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Niall. Can you start by telling us a bit about what inspired the creation of Carlichauns Entertainment?
**Niall Watters:** Absolutely! Our journey began with a passion for storytelling and a deep love for Irish folklore. Kevin Woods has dedicated over 30 years to sharing tales about the Carlingford leprechauns. A couple of years ago, Stephen Woods and I saw the potential to modernize these stories and create a pre-school children’s entertainment brand. We wanted to bring the magic of the Carlichauns to a global audience.
**Editor:** That sounds fascinating. How does your approach differ from traditional children’s entertainment?
**Niall Watters:** We’re taking an omni-channel approach, which means we’re not just focusing on animation for TV. Our core offerings include animated content for television and YouTube, but we’re also developing an augmented reality app, digital books, and interactive games. We want to engage kids in the environments they already enjoy, making the stories accessible and interactive.
**Editor:** You mentioned that you are finalizing a funding round of €750,000. How do you plan to utilize this investment?
**Niall Watters:** This investment will be crucial for our growth plans. We aim to enhance our animation content, expand our marketing efforts, and further develop our augmented reality app. We’ve had great success so far, including a trial run of our app that attracted over 2,500 users from 21 different nationalities. This funding will help us capitalize on this momentum.
**Editor:** Speaking of the trial run, can you elaborate on the success you experienced with the Carlichauns adventure trail?
**Niall Watters:** Of course! We launched it around St. Patrick’s Day across five locations in Ireland, and it exceeded our expectations. Not only did we draw a significant number of users, but we also topped the App Store charts in Ireland. It confirmed our belief that there is a substantial interest in our product, and we’re excited to build on that.
**Editor:** It’s impressive how you’ve turned an idea into a successful venture so quickly. What’s next for Carlichauns Entertainment?
**Niall Watters:** We’re focused on expanding our reach, finalizing our funding, and rolling out more content. Our goal is to not only entertain children but also to educate them about Irish folklore through engaging and interactive mediums. We’re excited about the future and can’t wait to see how kids around the world respond to the Carlichauns!
**Editor:** Thank you for your insights, Niall. Wishing you and the Carlichauns team all the best in your exciting ventures!
**Niall Watters:** Thank you for having me! We’re looking forward to sharing more of our story soon.
