Film studio plan for airport site may be scuppered

A plan to lay out the red carpet to Hollywood by creating a massive film studio at Galway Airport has been dealt a blow by a deal to purchase an old factory by Limerick’s two local authorities in bid to develop an international movie production hub with Ardmore Studios.

The move could also damage Galway’s bid to secure the designation for the European City of Culture 2020 for which Limerick is also pitching.

While a second film studio of that magnitude is unlikely to be built on this side of the country in such close proximity to Shannon Airport, officials here were publicly insisting such a proposal was still on the cards.

Limerick City and County Council confirmed the €6 million purchase of the old Dell building in Castletroy, which is about 10 hectares in size, with three hectares of development land available and 750 car spaces.

The purchase was completed following a visit by four Hollywood film producers in recent weeks.

One of them was legendary Hollywood producer Philip Lee who scouted out Limerick as a possible location for a $120 million science-fiction film called Inversion to be directed by Scott Waugh, whose last project, Need for Speed, grossed more than $200 million.

The local authority is in discussions with Ardmore Studios for the development in the mid-west.

Limerick City and County Council chief executive Conn Murray said the deal was the first step in their strategy to create an international film centre.

“The next part of the process is to finalise our discussions with Ardmore Studios,” he said.

“It’s also a logical legacy of Limerick’s year as National City of Culture 2014 and its bid to become European Capital of Culture for 2020.”

Danu Media in Inverin had approached Galway elected members and officials with a blueprint for transforming the old hangars in Carnmore into a TV and film studio.

The idea had already been mooted by the Galway Chamber of Commerce who said the runway should be maintained so that film stars could be flown in to work in the studios.

The airport was jointly purchased by Galway City and Galway County Councils after commercial flights were pulled when Government subsidies dried up.

A spokesman for Galway City Council said this week it was inviting expressions of interest from the public to use the site and was also targeting film and TV production companies. A report from consultants charged with investigating the viability of the former airport will be furnished to both local authorities today.

“Galway is one of five cities in the world designated a UNESCO city of film. One of the reasons for that is the existing audio visual industry and its potential for future film productions. This is something we’ve built up over many years, it’s not something we’ve come to lately,” he insisted.

“Fair play to Limerick in its expansion of film industry facilities outside of the Dublin area. That is to be welcomed. We don’t see it as scuppering our chances of anything – building a film studio or getting the European City of Culture designation. We’re out there plugging away, we’ll make our splash at the right time.”

General manager of the Galway Chamber of Commerce Maeve Joyce said the Limerick deal was in fact good news for Galway.

“I think it would still be possible to have a film studio at that site. Years and years ago you wouldn’t have thought it possible to have so many film companies based in the west. Hubs attract more business,” she opined.

“If this industry has looked on the west and mid-west as an opportunity for investment, I think we have to look at it as an opportunity for Galway.”

The film industry on the east coast has developed primarily due of the existence of Ardmore and a new studio in Ashford, County Wicklow.

Projects such as Ripper Street and Vikings have resulted in financial windfalls of up to €35 million per series.

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Executive of Galway County Council said he would still welcome proposals for film studios on the airport site.

“If the airport site is part of a plan for the film industry in this country then we are more than happy to engage in discussions,” he told this week’s meeting of Galway County Council.

The meeting discussed the potential lease of the 115 acre site and it was stated by Director of Services, Catherine McConnell that it has been used by the flying club since the major commercial activity there ceased.

She said that there had been no income from this arrangement, but they were now entering a formal lease until December after which it was hoped to establish a longer term lease.

Fine Gael councillor Michael Mogie Maher said he had been talking to people in the industry and they would view the airport site as a potential venue for a film studio.

“This is a major opportunity to realise the value of what we have in Carnmore. I know for a fact that the film industry in this country is interested in looking at the site.

“If this happened, then it would bring millions of euro in terms of investment into Galway and both the city and county would benefit. Even from a tourist perspective, it would be beneficial,” Cllr Maher said.