Film & TV executives seek permission to build major production studio in Mullingar

A proposal for what may soon become Hammerlake Studios could establish Ireland's largest multi-purpose Film & TV production studio in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

The proposal is backed by former senior film executives from Universal Pictures, Disney and Troy Studios. The executives explain that their choice of location is because of its proximity to a major international travel hub like Dublin.

Construction is estimated to take 12 months on the proposed facility that would feature a total combined area of 75,000 square meters across 11 sound stages.

The site would also include virtual production facilities, a large restaurant, hair and makeup rooms, costume department, art department, multiple suites for talent, green rooms, and visual effects & edit rooms.

The site would also make sustainable practices a priority and plans to reduce its carbon footprint by utilising procured and on-site renewable electricity. It will also implement a rainwater harvesting system will save thousands of litres of water usage per year.

"It's going to be one of the biggest studios in western Europe, it's of huge international significance," said Fianna Fáil Senator Aidan Davitt.

Minister for State for Local Government and Planning Peter Burke has also expressed his excitement for the immense impact that the project could make.

"The scale of the project is colossal and if brought to fruition it would make Ireland a world leader in the film industry," he said.

Once completed, the studio would employ an estimated 350 film crew members.

In 2021 Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland released record breaking screen production figures of €500 million spent across film, television, documentary and animation production in Ireland. This is an increase of 40% over the previous record set in 2019.

Screen Ireland addressed these promising statistics, saying:

“The success of screen production activity has come on the back of a combination of Ireland’s competitiveness in attracting international productions, Screen Ireland’s own development funding opportunities and schemes for local producers and creative talent, as well as direct support from Government that is key to driving and maintaining this success.”

Hammerlake Studios will submit for planning permission with Westmeath County Council at the end of April.