Clermont Screen Hub is already being used by well-known actor and writer Chris O’Dowd for a new production.
Clermont Screen Hub, a new facility for content creators, has been opened by Wicklow County Council as part of a strategy to boost the movie and TV-making business in the county.
Wicklow is already home to two of the country’s biggest and most successful movie studios: Ardmore in Bray and Ashford Studios in Ashford.
“This industry is an important employer in the county and the strong interest from prospective tenants demonstrates that this project is aligned with the needs of the screen sector”
Located at the Clermont Campus in Rathnew, the new Screen Hub is already being used by well-known actor and writer Chris O’Dowd for a new production.
Hollywood of Europe
Clermont Screen Hub offers a mix of private and co-working spaces attractively set around a suite of social spaces, a conference centre, podcast studio, and screening facilities, along with access to a range of meeting spaces and training facilities on the larger Wicklow County Campus.
The Content Creation Hub was built with support from the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment‘s Regional Enterprise Development Fund administered by Enterprise Ireland, along with match funding provided by Wicklow County Council.
“The Clermont Screen Hub is a state-of-the-art facility that will nurture talent and innovation in the film and content production sector,” said Carol Gibbons, Manager, Regions and Local Enterprise, Enterprise Ireland.
“The success of Irish companies and individuals in the creative arena is a testament to the immense, strong emerging talent of the Irish digital entertainment sector here and this facility will provide more fledgling businesses with the support, guidance and collaboration they require to bring their ideas to the next level.”
Stakeholders in the screen industry as well as development agencies and training providers were widely consulted in the development of this project which aims to boost job creation in the film and content creation industry, particularly focusing on productions in County Wicklow.
The Hub has become a hive of activity since its soft opening in July and, with plenty of early interest from the industry, it is currently at full capacity already with the Chris O’Dowd production for Sky, ‘Small Town, Big Stories,’ taking up most of the office space.
“The opening of this Hub brings to fruition one of the County Council’s objectives outlined in the Mid East Regional Enterprise Plan, which seeks to establish the region as a hub for content creators,” said Emer O’Gorman, CEO, Wicklow County Council.
“This industry is an important employer in the county and the strong interest from prospective tenants demonstrates that this project is aligned with the needs of the screen sector.”
Wicklow has often been called the ‘Hollywood of Europe’ and is home to world-class film studios, including Ardmore Studios and Ashford Studios. The county is ideally situated with rural locations and urban locations side-by-side and everything that might be needed virtually on the doorstep.
In addition, and this is a big draw for international productions, the county boosts world renowned, talented and highly experienced crew and cast.
The Garden of Ireland has played host to an enviable line up of productions including ‘Braveheart’, ‘The Tudors’, ‘Penny Dreadful’, ‘Into the Badlands’, ‘Fate: The Winx Saga’, ‘Vikings’, ‘Valhalla’, ‘Cocaine Bear’, ‘PS I Love You’, ‘Disenchanted’ and many more.
Speaking at the recent opening, Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Simon Coveney, TD, said: “We are delighted to support this key piece of infrastructure for this global sector and welcome the invaluable partnership between government, Wicklow County Council and the industry which have made this initiative possible.”
Main image at top: Wicklow County Council CEO Emer O’Gorman, Cathaoirleach Aoife Flynn Kennedy, Simon Coveney TD, Simon Harris TD, and Deputy Stephen Matthews at the official opening
