The National Irish Science Fiction Convention | 9th – 11th October 2020
Running Octocon as a virtual convention means that we need more volunteers than ever in order to make the convention as successful as possible.
If you have a few hours spare on the weekend of the 9th – 11th October (and beforehand for training), especially if you’re familiar with technologies such as Twitch, Zoom and Discord, please volunteer!
We’ve had loads of brilliant programme suggestions and participant applications for 2020 – thank you to everyone who’s been in touch!
We’re well into our final planning stages now however, so the programme application will be closing on Tuesday 18th August at 11:59pm Irish time.
Last chance to apply to be a programme participant for Octocon 2020 (Google form)
We have exciting news: Octocon is going Virtual!
This will be a first for the National Scifi Convention and was something only dreamed of as possible at the first Octocon 30 years ago.
We plan to bring you a range of panels, interviews and fan chats online for free on Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th of October. We are currently investigating which platforms will suit best and hope you will join us via the screen of your choice.
If you have suggestions for panels or would like to take part please complete the appropriate forms.
We will also need people to help out over the Virtual Convention. If you would like to do so please contact Volunteers@Octocon.com
As Octocon is going Virtual this means we can have attendees from all over the world.
So make sure you tell your fandom family they can join us, for free, on the 10th and 11th of October.
More updates as we have them!
As you all know, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a lot of changes to the world. The committee and I have been tirelessly working these past few months to make sure that Octocon happens safely and responsibly in 2020.
Unfortunately, the pandemic is not going away soon and our venue has informed us that they will not be able to safely accommodate the number of members we expect to attend Octocon, due to the social distancing measures that they will need to put in place.
So with a heavy heart, I have to inform you that there will not be a physical convention in 2020.
It’s not all bad news! We are currently looking at alternative ways to run Octocon in 2020, making use of your suggestions for panels and the work that’s already been done by our programming team. We will have more news for you soon.
Exciting plans for next year’s convention are already underway and your membership for 2020 will automatically be rolled over to our next planned physical convention in 2021. If you are getting this email you were a member of Octocon 2020 and are now a member of Octocon 2021.
If you would rather avail of a refund for this year, we will gladly accommodate your request – please contact members@octocon.com. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you at our next in-person event in October 2021.
Thank you for your continued support of Octocon!
Raissa, Octocon chair
Octocon is 30 years old this year! We really really really want to celebrate our festival of Irish SFF fandom in as many ways as possible – and we need your help!
Email anniversary@octocon.com if you can help with any of the following…
We’re sad not to be at Eastercon this year, but Octo would like to wish all who celebrate a Happy Easter, and offer chocolate* to everyone!
* Offer of chocolate can be redeemed from the Easter bunny.
Octocon has no current plans to change or cancel this year’s event (9th-11th October) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We will of course continue to monitor the situation and heed all appropriate guidance from the relevant public bodies, and will review our position closer to the event if necessary.
~ The Octocon 2020 committee
Octocon’s 2020 Guest of Honour, Michael Carroll, is one of this year’s big winners at the Irish Comic News Awards!
BEST IRISH WRITER (MAJOR PUBLISHER):
Michael Carroll (2000AD)
BEST IRISH WRITER (NON-FICTION):
Michael Carroll (Rusty Staples)
Congratulations to Mike and to all the other winners and nominees – it’s wonderful to see such talent and creativity across the Irish comics scene.
Octo is a BIG fan of 2000AD, particularly Judge Dredd: Every Empire Falls written by our Guest of Honour, Michael Carroll.
Octocon’s programme typically includes panel discussions, workshops, presentations, and chats with guests and other fans (on specific topics), as well as special events such as book launches and demonstrations.
Our surveys are now open for you to:
Apply to be a programme participant for Octocon 2020 (Google form) – this also includes an area for suggestions
Suggest programme items you’d like to see at Octocon 2020 (Google form)
If you apply to be a participant, you probably won’t hear back from us until mid to late April at the earliest. If you don’t hear back by the end of May, please do nudge us at programming@octocon.com.
Suggestions for programme items are added to our large pot of ideas, and we’ll be in touch if there’s anything further we like to know (for example, if you offer to run a workshop).
