My first job in animation was for Don Bluth. I was hired at his Dublin studio in 1988 and worked there until 1993. Liam Geraghty has made an excellent podcast about the history of Bluth’s Dublin studio from 1986 through its demise in the early to mid 90s, and the transition / exodus to Phoenix Arizona – it’s a trip down memory lane for me, and should be of interest to anyone with a love of the vanishing art of hand-drawn animation. LINK
Just as he was poised to take over from Disney’s Nine Old Men Don Bluth defected, set up a rival company and moved it to Ireland in the 80s. There he created animated classics like An American Tail, The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven and helped kick start the Irish animation industry.