Galway Bay FM News Archives
Galway stakes claim to be Irish answer to Hollywood
Date Published: 09-Jun-2011
By Bernie Ní Fhlatharta and Denise McNamara
Galway could become Ireland’s answer to Hollywood thanks to a new partnership which opens up the city and environs to the film industry.
Yesterday, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan officially launched the initiative at the Galway City Museum where he described Galway as the second largest audiovisual region outside Dublin.
The new collective of organisations essential for access to infrastructure, facilities and personnel as well as overcoming red tape are coming together to entice more filmmakers to Galway, an industry which last year conservatively generated €20m locally.
The Film Galway Partnership is being spearheaded by the Galway Film Centre and aims to “encourage, support and facilitate” more film and television productions, such as The Guards, starring Brendan Gleeson, which was shot in Connemara, city centre and Salthill.
Much of the €5.2m budget for the acclaimed film which is to be released in July was spent on local crews and services during the eight-week shoot, Declan Gibbons, manager of the Galway Film Centre points out.
The overall goal of the new initiative is to send out the message that “Galway is open for business” when it comes to the film industry.
“We want to make it as easy as possible for producers to get access to locations because there are logistics that need to be overcome,” explained Declan.
“A lot of different counties are starting to be active in this area and we felt there were quite a lot of films shot recently that could have been shot here. We have the locations, the infrastructure, the crews. The key to attracting companies to the west is to have a good relationship with Irish production companies.”
International filmmakers who wish to avail of the section 48 tax break must have an Irish co-producer. This partnership will help put them in touch with the Galway companies.
A recent Price Waterhouse Coopers report on the sector states that Galway is second to Dublin when it comes to the two main audiovisual clusters in the country.
There are up to 20 production companies based in Galway, many of them in the Gaeltacht, which is around 10% of the total number of companies in the State.
For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
Galway has a population of young people which is more than twice the national average.
According to information gathered by the Central Statistics Office, Galway’s population of 20 to 24 year olds is more than twice the national average.
The number of 25-34 year olds in Galway is also more than the norm nationally, with the two main colleges thought to be the main reason.
However immigration in Galway is much higher than in other areas at 19.4 percent, compared to the national average of 12 percent.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A city councillor is encouraging people to donate goods directly to charity shops.
It follows allegations of thefts from clothes banks in Galway and across the country in recent months.
However, cameras are in place at some clothes banks and surveillance is carried out by local authorities.
Speaking on Galway Talks, Councillor Neil McNeilis said the problem of theft from clothes banks is widespread.
Date Published: 07-May-2013
A park ‘n’ ride scheme from Carnmore into Galway city could become a permanent service if there is public demand.
That’s according to the Chief Executive of Galway Chamber of Commerce, Michael Coyle.
The pilot scheme will begin at 7.20 next Monday morning, May 13th.
Motorists will be able to park cars at the airport carpark in Carnmore and avail of a bus transfer to Forster Street in the city.
Buses will depart every 20 minutes at peak times and every 30 minutes at offpeak times throughout the day, at a cost of 2 euro per journey.
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