Clare film industry to strengthen and grow with new WRAP investment fund
Clare’s unique landscape has made it an ideal location for film and TV production over the decades, but a new expansion of the WRAP investment fund will show the county has more than just scenery to offer.
The county’s potential has been underlined by such WRAP-funded TV series as Smother, starring Dervla Kirwan, and more recently, Blackshore, starring Lisa Dwan.
An opportunity to build on these foundations comes as WRAP expands from a position of funding individual productions to direct investment in film, TV, games, and animation companies based in the West of Ireland, and growing them over a longer term.
It will also empower producers and companies in the region through more direct support via the newly established WRAP Screen Commission, and ensure the WRAP Region - Clare, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo, and Leitrim - can compete with the east coast in terms of the kind of production which can be attracted here.
Since WRAP’s inception in 2018, it has supported 32 projects, including the TV series Smother, which was filmed in Lahinch and the surrounding areas.
Together, these projects have received 98 award nominations and 13 wins. The fund has seen upwards of €33 million (€40.2 million including non-regional cast) spend in the region, from €2.69 million invested, a €12: €1 impact in the region. Importantly for the West, they have also collectively created approximately 500+ regional crew positions and the employment of 150+ regional trainees, 75+ regional cast, and 1500+ regional extras.
WRAP is a joint initiative of the Western Development Commission and Ardán, with support from local authorities from the Western Region - Clare, Donegal, Galway City and County, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo - and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Through WRAP, a sustainable ecosystem for people who work in the AV industry in the West of Ireland is being created.