IMAGE: Pierce Brosnan in Four Letters of Love – c/o Genesius Pictures

Western AV Forum says €10 million regional fund urgently needed to sustain West of Ireland’s screen industry 

The West of Ireland’s status as an important film hub and location for the screen industry is under threat unless a dedicated regional plan and a €10 million investment from the Government is put in place. 

This is the view of the Western AV Forum (WAVF), a collective of key stakeholders in the West of Ireland’s AV industry, chaired by Ardán, a registered charity based in Galway supporting creative talent in the screen sector. 

WAVF is calling for a €10m investment in regional producers in Budget 2025, as an interim solution to address the lapse of the Section 481 Regional Uplift. The Uplift, which operated between 2019 and 2023, resulted in the AV sector creating consistent employment for thousands; generating millions in direct spend in regional areas; and realising the Government’s aim of creating a sustainable audio-visual sector outside Dublin/Wicklow.  

WAVF insists the Government cannot continue to ignore what is becoming a crisis in the industry in the West and must instead support the proven track record of success this side of the Shannon by reinstating and expanding the scheme. 

Impact on the Western Region 

The vibrant West of Ireland film and TV hub has been highlighted by international hit RTÉ/Hulu series Obituary, co-produced by APC Studios (UK) and Galway-based Magamedia. Filmed primarily in Donegal, its first season employed 140 crew, 11 trainees, 54 cast, and 133 extras, and generated 3,900 accommodation nights. The series sold globally and brought significant foreign investment into the region with 50% of its finances coming from overseas. Season 2 sees BAFTA-nominated Máiréad Tyers joining the cast. 

The latest West of Ireland productions include RTÉ’s award-winning documentary Ireland’s Wild Islands; upcoming features, Four Letters of Love, starring Pierce Brosnan, Helena Bonham Carter, and Gabriel Byrne; Cry from the Sea, starring Dominic Hooper; and recent successes That They May Face The Rising Sun, Fidil Ghorm, The Watched, Blackshore, My Sailor, My Love, Banshees of Inisherin, God’s Creatures, North Sea Connection, and Smother. 

The wider benefits to the industry and region were highlighted by the WAVF Budget Submission: “At the height of the Section 481 Regional Uplift – at 5% in 2021 – it accounted for €124m of regional spend. It directly led to the employment of 1,941 Crew, 369 Cast, and 2,417 Extras. Even in 2023, the final year of the Uplift, at a greatly reduced level of 2%, projects were delivering immense benefits regionally. In 2024, however, with the uplift having lapsed, Ireland’s regional film and television production sector is facing a critical juncture.” 

Why is the Government ignoring the regional screen sector? 

Given the numerous successes for the Irish AV industry and a demonstrated record of employment, economic generation, and investment, WAVF is dismayed at the Government’s short-sightedness in allowing the Uplift to lapse with no plans in place for a successor scheme. 

Since the Uplift lapsed, there has been an immediate and concerning decline in the number of productions. In 2023, with eligible expenditure of €53.5 million, the value of the Uplift to companies dropped to just over €1m – a reduction of 86% from its peak. Since then, the west’s AV industry has declined to below pre-Uplift levels, with productions drifting back towards Dublin/Wicklow. This goes against stated Government policy aims for more decentralised film production. 

It also feeds into wider concerns that the Western region is being increasingly left behind with Government focus primarily on Dublin and its surrounding counties. 

Independent TD for Galway West and Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Catherine Connolly calls on the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media to “address the lack of strategy around regional screen production since the lapse of the Section 481 regional uplift; and if she will support a dedicated regional strategy as part of Budget 2025 to specifically address the development of the sector in the regions. Ms. Connolly fully supports the call for a €10 million annual regional fund investment and believes the return would greatly exceed that investment.” 

Urgent measures needed 

The situation has led the WAVF to demand the reinstatement of a functioning, consistent, long-term Section 481 Regional Film Development Uplift, of at least 8% for a minimum of 10 years. This would stimulate regular regional production; provide long-term stability by maintaining a key crew base through consistent work outside Dublin/Wicklow; and reduce costs of shooting in the regions, making them more attractive to incoming productions. 

Abú Media’s Pierce Boyce said; “as a Galway and West of Ireland based production company, the team at Abú understand from first-hand experience the need for strategic investment and supports in place for the regional AV sector. We want to continue to provide high-quality, award-winning screen content for film and TV, and in particular Irish-language and children’s content well into the future, but that does require financial incentive and sustainable infrastructures.” 

The WAVF calls for an interim, dedicated €10 million Regional Fund, managed by Screen Ireland, to sustain regional producers and writers; generate a pipeline of creative content; enhance regional production capabilities; and ensure geographic spread of production. 

The Forum calls on the Government to develop Regional Clusters, through strategic investment, establishing these areas as centres of production, innovation and excellence, and support the Government’s goal of balanced regional development. 

Obituary producer Paddy Hayes said: “It’s important where a producer wakes up in the morning. I came to live in Galway in the 90s because of the ecosystem that was built between Roger Corman’s studio, the Irish Film Board, Galway Film Centre, and TG4. The Galway hub has dissipated, which shows you that you have to not only develop but sustain these regional creative hubs and ecosystems with the right support to maintain the people that make the work.” 

Press Links:

• https://www.independent.ie/regionals/galway/news/west-of-ireland-film-industry-calls-for-10m-investment-to-save-regional-production/a62845756.html 
• West of Ireland film industry calls for €10 million investment to support regional producers | Business Post 
• Countdown begins for premiere of star-studded Donegal drama – Donegal Daily
• Regional plan needed to support west as important film hub | Connaught Telegraph (con-telegraph.ie)
• Fears for future of film industry in North West – Ocean FM

For more information, or to arrange an interview with Ardán CEO Alan Duggan, contact: 

Kathryn Reynolds, 

Comms & Marketing Executive, Ardán 

kathryn@ardan.ie 

087 6036452 

• To read the WAVF Budget Submission summary CLICK HERE 
• To download the full WAVF Budget Submission CLICK HERE 

About the Western AV Forum:  

The Western AV Forum (WAVF) is a collective of key stakeholders for Film, Television, Games, and Animation in the West of Ireland chaired by Ardán. The forum hears firsthand from those working on the ground in the regions and gain considerable insight into the challenges they face. WAVF’s work with these initiatives, alongside others it operates, provides it with a top to bottom understanding of the industry in the region and informs the recommendations that follow. 

WESTERN AV FORUM includes: 

2000AD Productions/ 9th Impact / Abú Media / Adam & Ed Creative / Aniar Teo / Ardán / Atlantic Technological University / Bandit Films / Black Gate Productions/  Clare County Council / Creative Europe Media Desk / Creative Heartlands Film / Danú Media / Donegal Film Office / Éiru Films / EO Teilifís / Fíbín Media / Film Mayo / Fís Éireann – Screen Ireland / Galway City Council / Galway County Council / Galway Culture Company / Galway Film Fleadh & Fair / Galway Roscommon ETB / Gamerfest / Gréasán na Meán Skillnet / GK Media / Iris Productions / Janey Pictures / Leitrim County Council / Little Rose Films / Lorg Media / Lunar Pictures / Magamedia / Magpie 6 Media Entertainment / Mayo County Council / Moetion Films / National Talent Academy: Film & Television / Romero Games / Roscommon County Council / Sligo County Council / Spooky Doorway / Studio Meala / Studio@5 by Cue One / Telegael / TG4  /The Bothy / Tri Moon Films / Tribal City Interactive / Triggerfish Animation Studios / Tua Films / Údarás na Gaeltachta / University of Galway / Western Development Commission (WDC) / WRAP Fund and Commission 

About Ardán: 

Ardán (previously known as Galway Film Centre) is a registered charity operating across the West of Ireland and beyond, supporting creatives in filmmaking, television, games, and animation through training, funding, and networking opportunities.

Follow us on social media at @ardan_ie or subscribe to the monthly newsletter for regular industry updates as well as events, funding, and training opportunities facilitated by Ardán, WRAP, Galway City of Film, and National Talent Academy for Film & TV Drama.