Ireland’s film industry has undergone a significant transformation in recent years thanks to heavy investment in its local production infrastructure. The country is now emerging as one of the most sought-after filming locations in Europe, challenging even London’s status just across the sea, with recently announced tax incentives sweetening the deal for international productions.
European Production Attracts International Business
Over the last five years, several European nations have emerged as contenders for Hollywood productions. Ireland has launched multiple studio projects at various development stages, including an expansion of its oldest studio, Ardmore Studios. Elsewhere, Hungary has emerged as Europe’s second-largest film-making hub after London, while 2023 saw a record number of films shot in Spain.
Much of this growth has been buoyed by the streaming sector and Europe’s advanced digital infrastructure. Ireland’s investment in production infrastructure follows a similar economic strategy adopted by other EU nations. Industries such as the casino industry benefit from this, as it facilitates the kind of high-speed streaming of video feeds that allows live dealer studios with roulette online to function. Not only that but games like this – which exist not just in the most traditional variations of roulette, but in speed versions and under various themes – impress a growing audience of online casino players. And that’s just one example of the impact faster internet speeds can have.
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Recently Opened and Expanded Studios
Ireland’s studio boom has been the result of a strategic plan by the local government. This includes an expansion of Ardmore Studios in County Wicklow, which operates eight sound stages that span 90,000 square feet in total. Last year, the studio reported post-tax profits of €3.29 million, which marks a 116% increase on post-tax profits of €1.52 million in 2022.
In 2017, Ardmore’s owners opened Troy Studios, which has four sound stages totaling 100,000 square feet. According to Elaine Geraghty, the head of both studios, the size of the studios has helped to attract international productions, saying “If you don’t have the space, you limit what you do and who you do it with”.
The facilities have attracted productions from major studios like Universal and Warner Bros. Screen Ireland, the nation’s state development agency for film, has played a large role in sparking this growth. Its 2024 budget hit an all-time high of $42 million, and it spearheaded tax incentives to return 32% of production spending in credits.
New Studios to Come
In a sign that the local industry only seems to be ramping up, there are three more major production facilities planned for Ireland. Each is vying to be the largest in the country and is currently seeking council approval or investment to proceed. The expansion is driven by a strategy to compete with established production hubs like the United Kingdom.
Hammerlake Studios is planning a 460,000-square-foot campus in Westmeath, while the owners of Ardmore and Troy Studios are planning to build 670,000 square feet of studio space in Greystones. Another proposed development, Dublin Fields, seeks to build a 56-acre media campus in South Dublin with 11 sound stages.
The studio expansion has also seen investment in Ireland’s workforce, with more than 5,000 employees trained to support the sector. Furthermore, Dublin’s 2025 budget has revealed a 40% tax incentive for low to mid-range films by Irish creators. With a slate of ambitious studio developments planned at the current studio attracting large international productions, Ireland’s emerging film industry is on the path to becoming a serious contender with London.