The biggest film studio in the country, Ardmore, has opened up a new production facility just minutes from its main operation in Wicklow.
Bray-based Ardmore which has hosted productions like Braveheart and, more recently, Chris O'Dowd series Moone Boy, employs around 500 people and is worth in the region of €50m to the local area.
The new premises has over 30,000 sq ft of studio space and 11,000 sq ft of office space distributed over two floors.
The company said the new centre will serve as both an extension to the Herbert Road location, and "as a standalone facility offering clients increased availability of studio and office space".
It is not known if the new facility will result in new jobs at Ardmore. A spokeswoman for the fim studio declined to comment when asked if it had any plans to open additional studio space in the near future.
workshops
Ardmore has five sound stages comprising 40,000 sq ft total in Bray, while there is also 100,000 sq ft of support buildings including workshops, production offices, props stores, costume rooms, dressing rooms and hair and make-up rooms.
Ardmore chief executive Siún Ní Raghallaigh has recently cited a lack of studio space as an urgent problem for the Irish film industry, claiming that her company has had to turn down productions due to a lack of studio space.
In total, Ireland has 111,000 sq ft of industry standard studio space and Ms Ní Raghallaigh suggests that an additional 100,000 sq ft at least is urgently required here.
Ardmore is currently in discussions with Limerick council about opening up a major new film studio in the city, although there has been no news on talks in recent weeks.
A deal to develop a major production hub in the old Dell building was expected to be announced shortly after the local authority bought the former Dell factory in Limerick in May. It was expected that an agreement would be quickly reached to lease the premises to Ardmore to establish a new film base in the mid-west.