Lights, camera, action - mini Hollywood plan for Nenagh

A plan for the development of a purpose-built film and television production studio in Nenagh with investment of up to €30 million and the creation of hundreds of jobs in the locality is in the pipeline.

Silver Rock Studios has this week submitted a planning application to Tipperary County Council for the development of the massive studio in the old Rorer pharmaceutical plant at Lisbunny Industrial Estate.

If planning permission is granted, Silver Rock's President and Founder Andy Egan says it’s his aim to start construction before Christmas. He said 250 jobs would be created during construction phase.

Under Phase One of the project, he said there could be 300 employed fulltime by the time the studio is up and running next summer, but possibly twice that figure depending on the work the studio attracts.

Mr Egan, who grew up in Coolbawn, said: “Nenagh is the perfect setting for Silver Rock Studios due to its central location in Ireland, its excellent motorway infrastructure, proximity to Lough Derg, and access to Shannon Airport.

“The diverse range of idyllic green landscapes and historical features for filming locations along with the warmth of reception received from the people of Nenagh has underpinned our decision [to locate in the area].”

Following on from Phase One would be “further expansion with additional investment and jobs to be created over the next three years”.

The first phase would be the development of 70,000 square feet of sound stages and over 90,000 square feet of workshops, production support and training facilities and the studio will be a “nearly net-zero carbon energy building”.

Said Mr Egan: “Studio space is at a premium across Europe, and Ireland is uniquely positioned to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Speaking at a press conference for local media in the Abbey Court Hotel on Monday last, he thanked Tipperary County Council for its “support and enthusiasm”.

Mr Egan also thanked local TD and Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly who he said was dedicated to bringing the project to Nenagh.

He said the studio was also backed by Screen Ireland and Táiniste Leo Varadkar who were very supportive.

The proposed development aims to capitalise on Ireland’s already established world-wide reputation as a production location.

Mr Egan said Silver Rock Studios was committed to adding to the existing crew based in the region, developing a training academy for new entrants and upskilling the current workforce whilst becoming a significant employer.

HISTORIC DAY

Alan Kelly, who attended the press conference, said he had been working on the project with Mr Egan for the past 22 months. “This is a historic day and a day of great hope and ambition for Nenagh and the wider Tipperary and the Midwest,” he said.

Working with Mr Egan has involved “finding the site on Dublin Road in Nenagh, getting support from Government departments and agencies and working closely with Tipperary County Council along with a range of other local and national stakeholders.”

Deputy Kelly said Silver Rock has “the capacity to create hundreds of direct and indirect sustainable jobs and it can put our county and particularly the town of Nenagh on the map on a worldwide stage.”

Mr Egan said the press conference for local media would be followed by a much bigger national launch pending a successful planning application.

In an attempt to give an idea of the potential of the proposed facility, Mr Egan said making a television drama series could cost between €150 to €160 million for one season. “All that money will be spent in Nenagh so its pretty spectacular.”

He said Silver Rock Studios had been lobbied to establish a studio in Ireland by Screen Ireland and the company had previously scouted locations in Donegal and northern Ireland.

However, he finally chose Nenagh as his family hailed from Coolbawn and his father had founded a tool hire business with a Nenagh native, the late Des Treacy, in William Street in the town 40 years ago last week. He said Mr Treacy was his second cousin. “I already had ties here, so it was an easy decision to come here.”

One of the key factors in the decision to locate in Nenagh was the proximity of Shannon Airport and Silver Rock had now formed a strategic partnership with the airport.

Said Mr Egan: “We will have thousands - and this is not an exaggeration - thousands of Americans flying in and out whether they be actors, whether they be actors families, whether they be crews or principals of studios, who knows, tourists, whatever.”

WORK OPPORTUNITIES

He said there were big opportunities for people to work and supply services to the studio. “Whether it’s the pubs, bars, tool hire or the hardware store, we’ve got massive, massive props facilities going in to build everything, so hardware will be a big thing and painting and decorating.

“Every aspect of a town will be touched by this and it won’t take long before you know somebody, either yourself or family, that is associated with it in some way.”

Mr Egan said the pandemic had resulted in huge pent up demand for new television drama and film. Due to excellent tax incentives, there was massive work in this sector available to Ireland, but facilities like that planned for Nenagh were urgently required to allow the making of productions.

He said Silver Rock Studios would be facilitating film, television and animation.

The plan by Silver Screen was to pre-let the building in Lisbunny to a major “A list” studio who would commit to a contract of ten years.

He said an averaged average sized television production would necessitate the involvement of four to six hundred people. A major movie could involve 800 or 900 personnel.

“Game of Thrones has transformed Belfast and Northern Ireland; we have as many locations around here within ten to fifteen miles to compete on that level, and that is the level we will be competing at,” said Mr Egan.

He said “nearly half a million euro” had gone into preparing the planning application now before the council. He was keeping his fingers crossed that the council will grant permission for the development.

Mr Egan scotched a rumour that the actor Geroge Clooney was in town last week. But on what the studios were aiming to attract, he added: “it’s that level of acting [Mr Clooney’s]; don’t think this is amateur dramatics, this is proper industry.”

He thanked local developer Tony Donlon who he said was an investor in the project. Local company, Darcy Cleary was the company’s new insurance brokers. “For them it will be a massive contract because on every film everything will be insurance.”

Mr Egan said Lough Derg and its hinterland had huge potential for film making. “When I bring people to town for the first time I get them out on the lake because then the deal is done,” he said.

There would be plenty of opportunities for local people to work at the studio and for local students to improve their skills. There would be no minimum wage jobs.

He said he was hoping the council would issue a decision on the planning application in the next eight to twelve weeks.

The company aimed to be the largest employer in the region, and with work and film tourism taken into account could be attracting up to eight thousand flights a year into the country.

Silver Rock would work with local developers interesting in providing accommodation for those involved with the studio. There were 4,000 hotel bedrooms in Limerick available to facilitate personnel if accommodation could not be found in Nenagh.