Funders for the state-of-the-art 40,000 square foot film and television studio to be built at the former Galway Airport at Carnmore have been given the green light to move into the planning phase with the goal of being open to production next summer.

The development, which will be called Atlantic Studios, has entered into an agreement in principle for a long-term lease with the site owners, the City of Galway and the County of Galway councils. This exciting and creative project will be developed in stages. The initial first phase will involve the creative development of the existing hangar building space to provide over 40,000 square feet of film and television studio space, as well as office and suite support facilities.

Atlantic Studios’ strategic plan and its main driver of development is to capitalize on the global increase in film and television production due to the increase in the streaming of high-end drama.

Phase two of development will include additional studios with the goal of making Atlantic Studios a prime location and media hub or hub for production companies, focused on providing key services to support film production. and television.

The initial investment in the development of Atlantic Studios is expected to bring in 10 to 15 million euros per year to the Galway economy while creating between 150 and 200 production specific jobs.

A key economic engine for Galway, Atlantic Studios will also showcase the talent, facilities and stunning scenic spots of Galway and the West to the world. In addition, Atlantic Studios will harness the potential of Galway and the West of Ireland as a key location for large-scale film and television production. This development also ensures that Galway is at the heart of government policy making for Ireland as a global center for the production of high quality films and television series.

Atlantic Studio was created by Danú Media, a production company based in Spiddal and created by John Brady and Siobhán Ní Ghadhra. Atlantic Studios is supported by the Western Development Commission, Údarás na Gaeltachta and a wide range of industry players including Screen Ireland and Galway Film Center.

Siobhán Ní Ghadhra, director of Atlantic Studios, said they have a strong strategic plan and vision for what it can offer Galway, the West and Ireland as a whole.

“This development will be crucial to address the current lack of availability of suitable full-service studio space in the Irish audiovisual industry. As a result, growth has been severely restrictive in the sector.

John Brady of Atlantic Studios said the announcement is an important step in the right direction as Galway has a long history of television and film production.

“The creation of Atlantic Studios will allow us and Galway to attract large-scale international projects to shoot here in the West, which will also have obvious benefits for the local economy and the tourism industry. . This is an exciting initiative and we look forward to advancing plans with the City and County Council of Galway to complete this project and put Galway on the international map in 2022, ”he said.

Ireland is recognized around the world as an attractive location for film and television productions, with many top productions benefiting from the tax credits available for the film and television industry.

Alan Duggan, director of the Galway Film Center, said the Center is delighted that the city and county councils of Galway have supported the proposal.

“A film studio of this size in Galway will be a huge boost to production in the West of Ireland and provide significant opportunities for regional talent development.

“This is the type of infrastructure development that we and our colleagues at the Western AV Forum have been advocating for for some time.”

Galway Chamber of Commerce Managing Director Kenneth Deery also welcomes the progress made in this development.

“The media, television, film and creative industries are important employers for Galway and the region. Danú Media has been huge ambassadors for the West and local support is an important step in the right direction for this project at the former Galway Airport. We at Galway Chamber wholeheartedly support the Atlantic Studios project, which will result in increased jobs and a positive economic impact in the film and television industry and in Galway as a whole, ”he said.

Atlantic Studios was established by Danú Media, which is based in the coastal village of Spiddal, Connemara Gaeltacht, South County Galway, to produce high quality TV shows and feature films, for national markets and international.

Offering a full set of services to any incoming production, Danú Media has a solid and established experience in the field of co-production. The managers have experience in all areas of production and the added benefit of having a local and experienced team base, which they have worked with regularly for many years.

At the end of 2016, Danú Media acquired the production company Eo Teilifís, as well as the studio where the successful Irish-language television drama series Ros na Rún has been filmed and produced for over 20 years.