Eileen Rafferty #FollowErrigalVirtualStudios
We are delighted to be featuring Eileen Rafferty founder of Errigal Studios as one of our 6 New York St. Brigid’s Day pitchers. We spoke to Eileen to find out more about her and her founder journey.
To get us started - what’s your mantra?
Work Hard. Laugh Often. Play Outdoors.
Describe your business and what prompted you to start it?
Errigal Studios was born out of the success of The Bothy - a production house based in Donegal. Myself and my husband, David, started the business in 2016 after moving from London with our 2 small daughters to the place where I grew up, by the Atlantic Ocean. The Bothy has gone from strength to strength and while working on various projects in Donegal it became clear to me that there was a great need for a central studio hub in the region. Donegal has it all - the talented writers, directors, actors, the locations, the sought after crew but to bring this all together and create a world where there is sustainable employment year round was the fundamental idea behind the studio. Through our work with The Bothy we have a huge network in the industry and have gathered an amazing management team together. After a trip to Las Vegas in April 2021 where we met with the team from Vu - one of the world's leading virtual production studios, coupled with our existing partner experts in cloud collaboration software Frame IO, putting Donegal on the map as one of Europe's leading technology based studios was well and truly underway.
Tell us a little bit more about you?
So I grew up in Donegal surrounded by wonderful family, friends and a lifestyle that as a child I wasn't aware how lucky I was. Our house was filled with music as my Dad was a music teacher and my Mum was an incredible role model for me. My sister is career alignment coach and keeps me on the right path, and my brother is a music composer with an IFTA for post effects so an eclectic bunch that all push each other forward constantly. I went to college in Dublin when I was 17 and spent 4 amazing years studying for my degree in Hospitality Management. From there I went to New York where I worked in a bar for a couple of years before I settled at home in Donegal teaching computers to children. I managed to stay for about 8 months before the bright lights of London called so I went there, for a year, and returned home 16 years later. This time however, i was married, with 2 little girls and a career as a TV Producer. I can't say how much I loved living in London, it shaped me into the person I am today and I loved every minute of exploring the city and all it had to offer. I was extremely lucky that my main job in a company called WCRS was one surrounded by the best, talented, funny and most wonderful people ever - most of whom are still my friends to this day, one of which is my amazingly talented husband. We are so lucky to say that we also have an amazing group of friends and family around us here in Donegal. They are the sort of people that I love to be around and what sets the foundation for Errigal Studios. Since moving home we love to be outdoors. We cycle, swim in the sea, drive our children to what feels like never ending activities and we try to nip over to London as often as we can to see old friends and get a hit of the west end and culinary delights.
Fill us in on your female founder journey.
To be completely honest, it was never a plan of mine to be a founder. It was only when our journey from London to Donegal began that it was evident that to continue working in the industry I loved, from Donegal, was going to be a challenge so I had to make that work as best I could. For years I was in a hybrid mode, running The Bothy alongside David but joining productions for various roles over the years. I met Aideen Doherty at the Film Office just after we made the move home and she has been an incredible supporter and mentor since. After many conversations with David and Aideen and when the studio proposal began to take shape, that is when I fully stepped up to be a founder and it's been an incredible journey so far. It can be difficult balancing everything in life, ensuring that my family is given the attention that they deserve and keep all the plates spinning but that is a challenge that I accept and face every day. I am learning new things every single minute but the main thing I have taken on board so far is that this journey is a marathon not a sprint...
How has being part of the AwakenHub community helped your business?
The network and connections have been invaluable to me. Having such experienced women leading us at AwakenHub is a huge inspiration and the constant passing on of knowledge is so helpful. Talking to Mary Ann Pierce alongside 4 other incredible Donegal women recently for the Donegal Connect festival was a real highlight for me and firmly put the spotlight on Errigal Studios. (You can read this here)
As a founder - what are your non-negotiables?
Work/life balance is so important and I strive to stick to the boundaries that I set to ensure work does not swallow me up. Always high standards! I started out in the advertising world in London where standards are always high. My mentors and colleagues over the years taught me to never settle for sub standards in the work produced or the work process. This is still fundamental to my work ethos. I am at my best when I am surrounded by the people who energise and inspire me. The team we have built for the studio have that magic - they are professionally top of their game but they have a lust for life that is infectious and delightful to be around. I am an eternal optimist, cause, why not!
What are your top three tips for other women founders?
Trust your own instincts - it can be overwhelming when you are being pulled in every direction and being given advice from all corners. While it is all from a helpful place and extremely useful, it's important to be able to hear & heed your own voice in the middle of it all. Surround yourself with people you trust. They might not have the same opinion as you and they will challenge you on most decisions, but having mutual trust and respect is key. Face your fears and do your best. You're only human and every single person from trainee to global executives have fears every day, they have challenges every day and they have anxiety & stress every day. It's part of professional life so don't let it swallow you up - take it head on, in your own good time and in your own way.
What are you hoping to get out of your New York experience?
I am looking for investors for our studio. I hope to find them in New York. I also hope to meet like minded people who are striving forward with new businesses & ideas that are all part of the bigger picture making Ireland an exciting, inspiring, evolving place to be.
Where do you see yourself in 12 months and 5 years time?
In 12 months I hope to be preparing for our grand opening of Errigal Studios in Donegal with productions penciled in and a strong team in place to offer a top experience to every client every time. In 5 years I see the studio running at full capacity with the IP ownership of at least 50% of the productions. Errigal Studios will become a hub of productions being developed, written, produced, owned and distributed by us.
To finish up with what are six words to live by?
Build It And They Will Come
#FollowErrigalStudios
